1st and 2nd Endings

Many times the composer will want to repeat a passage of music exactly as it was played the first time, with the exception of the final few measures.  In this case, the composer will use first and second endings.

When first and second endings are used, the musician plays the music once, including the measures in the first ending, then repeats back to the opening repeat sign (or to the beginning of the piece, if there is no opening repeat sign).  He then plays the music a second time, and upon reaching the first ending, skips those measures and goes right to the second ending.  Read and listen to the following example.