Fellow Listers,

I am currently working on Thomas Weelkes' 'Some Men Desire Spouses'
(SSA). The edition I am using is by Don Malin and is in the 'Madrigals
for Treble Voices' published by Alfred.

It appears to me that in this addition there is at least 1 repeat that
has been ommitted. For those of you who have done this piece I am
wondering if you could clarify the repeats.

In my addition the 1st section of the song has 2 verses. At the end of
this section there is a double bar line, but no repeat. After the Fa,
la, las there is the pick up note to the next section. This note has 2
words (And - 1st time through, I'll - 2nd time through).

The second section has repeat sign at the beginning of the section and
1st and 2nd endings at the end of the section. The last note of the 1st
ending is the pick up note to the repeat (But - 1st time, I'll - 2nd
time).

This is my dilema. Obviously the 1st section of the song needs to be
repeated, but there is not a repeat notated in my music telling me when
to do so (unless it is just being implied that I need to sing section 1,
go right into section 2 and then repeat to beginning singing verse 2, go
onto to section 2 sing verse 2 then take the 1st ending back to section 2
verse 2 and finish with the 2nd ending.)

When looking at the 1st and 2nd endings in the 2nd section of the song,
the words do not make sense if I follow the repeat as it is written (the
1st ending indicates that I should repeat back to the beginning of the
2nd section of the song). The pick up note the '1st time' is but, which
would make the next phrase 'but get or I'll go nigh....' The pick-up
note the '2nd time' is I'll, which makes sense if you repeat the 2nd
verse a 2nd time ('I'll get or I'll go nigh...').

If I had to guess based on the information that I have and what I know
about Madrigals I would say I need to repeat the 1st section immediately
after the 1st set of fa, la, las and would sing 'And some men do seek
fair faces. After the repeat of the 1st section I would go on to the 2nd
section and sing 'And some desire as I do... I would then take the 1st
ending and repeat back to the beginning of the 2nd section and sing 'I'll
get or I'll go nigh..., Finish the 2nd section, take the 2nd ending and
finish the song.

Any information or insight you have on this piece would be greatly
appreciated! Thank you for your assistance!

Chorally Yours,
Mrs. Robbie Doelger
Director of Women's Choirs
Bay Port High School
Green Bay, WI
920-662-7287
robedoel(a)hssd.k12.wi.us