I certainly can't claim to know the answer to this one--I certainly don't disagree that there is some repeatyness indicated. The presence of the repeat sign unfortunately may not signify whether the music should be repeated or not. But it is something, it can't be discounted completely. However, there are so many versions of this piece, and some have repeats, some have divisions, the sources are all over the place. And the song is slightly different than the version in LoST Although this may seem counterintuitive, one must factor in the following: 1. Repeat signs were optional 2. Repeat signs are not consistent
Also, as far as repeat signs go, it is pretty clear that a double bar also signifies a repeat, and the dots signify the end of a section. So it is a bit of a dog's breakfast. One could argue, as far as the intent of the composer, that the only way Dowland could *prevent* people from repeating the third strain was to specifically not text it. But, unfortunately, there is no way to divine the composer's intent, and, even if that were possible, rule number one, the right of the performer to interpret, trumps the composer's intent. The reason that the performer has this right is demonstrated by "prescriptive" treatises--treatises where composer's basically rant against the performers doing whatever they please. As far as the divisions go, Dowland's position on that is clearly articulated in writing--he didn't like them There are a number of pavans both in lute sources and in keyboard sources that have fully, richly, brilliantly ornamented A's and B's, but single C's. There are too many of these pieces to discount. But did they add, or improvise divisions for the last bit? Some of these have no repeat sign marked, but, unfortunately, repeat signs are not consistent. I think there are too many of these "plain vanilla C's" to discount. On the other hand, Dowland may well have been very annoyed, like Marvin the Martian, when the last part was not repeated. Interpretation: No repeat=dramatic, unusual, one minute sooner to the pub Yes repeat=balanced, more pavanlike, another chance in case something goes wrong To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
