Igor Stravinsky's The Soldier's Tale (L'Histoire du Soldat) has long been considered one of the great musical works of the early 20th century. As the 125th birthday of Stravinsky approaches on June 17, 2007, what could be more a better piece to showcase than Jackson Braider's feature about The Soldier's Tale in its various incarnations? Stravinsky's Firebird, Petrushka, and Rite of Spring ballets may be more popular, but the intimacy and vigor -- the syncopated pizzazz -- of his Soldier's Tale septet make for a unique masterpiece, even for Stravinsky.

Braider describes the sequence of events that began in 1918 with the piece's initial composition. He continues tracing its evolution, culminating in a recent narrative version with Jeremy Irons speaking the voice of the soldier. I only wish the ghostly echoes of Stravinsky's jazzy fanfares, triads, and sixteenth notes in the background had been given more volume and time. For me, The Soldier's Tale is far more than a narrative put to music; Stravinsky himself was never much interested in the chamber music's narrative. As listeners we may appreciate its "story line," much as we appreciate the script of Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf. But the "pure music" of The Soldier's Tale rivals that of, say, Bartok's redoubtable Sixth String Quartet.

My garden-variety reservations notwithstanding, I sincerely hope that a hundred and one public radio stations air Braider's half-hour homage to Maestro Igor on June 17th.