Don Quichotte a Dulcinée

A set of three songs by Maurice Ravel (written in 1932-33). This was Ravel's last completed work. It had been commissioned for a film by G.W. Pabst starring Chaliapin, but the slowness of Ravel's composing meant that the songs were not used, and Jacques Ibert provided some songs instead. The three songs of "Don Quichotte à Dulcinée", poems by novelist Paul Morand, reflect the tenderly sincere and humorous moments of this well-known tale. The introductory quixotic song, "Chanson Romanesque," uses a pleasant vocal melody for Don Quixote's declaration of devotion to Dulcinea with a guitar-like accompaniment of the piano in a four-verse set of variations. "Chanson Epique" is the Knight's humble prayer, for blessings and protection, to the Virgin and the saints, in which the piano is used in the style of a church organ with rhythm derived from the Basque zortzico. Its austere chant, near the end of the song, concludes with a peaceful "Amen." The song cycle closes with "Chanson á boire," a robust jota in triple time, suitable for the lively exaggerations and embellishments written for the song's toast, "I drink to joy! Joy is the one aim for which I go straight...when I've drunk." Through this song Ravel bids an inadvertent adieu to music, from then on he suffered from ataxia and aphasia which kept him from coherently completing musical ideas. ---All Music Guide 1. Chanson romanesque Si vous me disiez que la terre À tant tourner vous offensa, Je lui dépêcherais Pança: Vous la verriez fixe et se taire. Si vous me disiez que l'ennui Vous vient du ciel trop fleuri d'astres, Déchirant les divins cadastres, Je faucherais d'un coup la nuit. Si vous me disiez que l'espace Ainsi vidé ne vous plaît point, Chevalier dieu, la lance au poing. J'étoilerais le vent qui passe. Mais si vous disiez que mon sang Est plus à moi qu'à vous, ma Dame, Je blêmirais dessous le blâme Et je mourrais, vous bénissant. Ô Dulcinée. 1. Quixotic Song Were you to tell me that by turning so much the earth offended you, I would send Panza to it: You would see it still and silenced. Were you to tell me that boredom assailed you from a sky too beflowered with stars, tearing the heavenly bodies, I would destroy night with one blow. Were you to tell me that space, thus emptied, did not please you, Gods knight, lance in hand, I would bespangle the passing wind with stars. But were you to tell me that my blood is more mine than yours, my lady, I should pale at the charge, and would die, blessing you. O Dulcinea. 2. Chanson épique Bon Saint Michel qui me donnez loisir De voir ma Dame et de l'entendre, Bon Saint Michel qui me daignez choisir Pour lui complaire et la défendre, Bon Saint Michel veuillez descendre Avec Saint Georges sur l'autel De la Madone au bleu mantel. D'un rayon du ciel bénissez ma lame Et son égale en pureté Et son égale en piété Comme en pudeur et chasteté: Ma Dame