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Could someone please help me understand the dynamics in the piece above?

I assume that the f-p in the first line means to play it forte the first time, then piano the second time when it repeats.

Then it goes to mf on the second line, then repeats the first line again because of the D.C. al Fine. How should the first line be played this 3rd time? Forte, piano, or mezzo forte?

Thank you

I think "f-p" means it has to go from forte to piano - but I may be wrong.

"f-p" definitely means forte the first time and piano on the repeat.

However, the treatment of the subsequent dynamic markings has always mystified me as well.

EDIT: helps if I look at the music before posting. So, on the third playing of the passage, I'm not sure what to play. However, I'm ALSO mystified about cases where there are tiered dynamic markings but subsequent non-tiered dynamics later in the repeated section.

I believe the third time is mezzo forte. And that is how it is played on the CD that comes with the book.

It depends.

Obviously you play the A section twice, f the first time and p the second. Try not to slow down for the soft part.

Obviously you play the B section once, mf.

Obviously you return to the A section (the beginning or head.)

But do you repeat the A section? yes, no, maybe. In American tradition normally no. DC is without repeat. In European tradition normally yes. DC includes repeats. (Some teach DC includes repeats and DS does not, others the reverse. I've played in bands that did it both ways.)

This composer is French, so you could make the argument he intended the A section to repeat on the DC, f the first time and p the second.

I think the brevity of the piece would imply that you wouldn't repeat on the Da Capo, though it is open to interpretation. I certainly wouldn't repeat.

Thanks everyone for chiming in. It does seem like there is room for interpretation.

After posting this, I listened to the piece again in the car. As Scorpio mentioned above, the CD does seem to continue in mezzo forte for the Da Capo al Fine. Also the first line is only played once on the repeat, at least that is that way that it is played on the CD.

Oh good question, "The Stranger" from Alfred's level 1 is like that too. I just played the D.C. al Fine part once, but I always wondered if I should have repeated it.

I would make a contrast between sections.

After the mf B strain, if I were playing the A strain just once I'd play it piano.

Or, I might play it several times, fading it out. f, mf, p, pp, ppp, etc.