9 - Remarks for the use of the professional singer

Summary

1. Behold our singer appearing in public, having happily put behind him the previous lessons by virtue of his diligence. But what good does it do only to be seen? Whoever does not play a worthy role on the great stages of the world is no more significant a figure than a minor character who has no lines.

2. Judging by the cold indifference toward their profession that many singers exhibit, one might conclude that they are only waiting for the moment when Music might prostrate herself before them and with gestures of humility request the boon of being taken magnanimously into their favor as a most humble and obedient servant.

3. If so many singers were not so thoroughly convinced they had already learned enough, the number of truly good ones would not be so small; and on the other hand, the number [lit., heap] of bad ones would not be so frightfully great. Those who have memorized four Kyries already believe that they have reached the heights [lit. the ne plus ultra]. But give them a very simple cantata, which is copied cleanly and clearly, and instead of being grateful for this favor, they say with shameless audacity: Great souls are not obliged to sing in their mother tongue on the spur of the moment. Who could refrain from laughing at this point?