Ex. 1-11: Chanson à boire

The final piece from Ravel's Don Quichotte à Dulcinée (Don Quixote to Dulcinea) (1932–33), a three-song cycle based on the story of Don Quixote with text by Paul Morand. This was Ravel's last composition.

The cycle was originally requested by film director G. W. Pabst for a cinema version of Don Quixote starring the singer Fyodor Chaliapin. However, as Ravel struggled with Pick's disease — a brain disease that slowly took away his ability to move and remember — Pabst turned to Jacques Ibert instead. Ravel completed only three of the planned four songs, and required assistance to write down the music due to his declining health.

In this drinking song, Don Quixote laughs at those who say wine and love bring only sorrow: "I drink to joy! Joy is the only goal I head straight for — once I've had a drink!"

The song is built on the jota, a lively dance rhythm from Aragon, Spain — Ravel's love for Spanish music came partly from his Basque mother. The joyful final cry "Je bois à la joie!" (I drink to joy!) was the last flash of brilliance from a composer who could still hear music in his mind but could no longer write it down.

Track 11 from the album The Ravel Edition by Gérard Souzay and Dalton Baldwin (2012)
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