Translator's preface

Summary

I doubt if there exists anywhere a book that presents more clearly and completely for the prospective singer most of what he must know and practice; that provides for the more advanced singer various special benefits [i.e. refinements] as yet unknown to him, despite his having collected a quantity of bravos, often in public assembly; and finally, that would sharply criticize the faults of those many virtuosi who think themselves so perfect in the art of singing – in short, a book that gives such complete advice on that art as Opinioni de' Cantori antichi e moderni, o sieno Osservazioni sopra il canto figurato [Opinions regarding ancient and modern singers; or Observations on the florid song] by Pier Francesco Tosi, of the Accademia Filarmonica. In this happy conviction, I take special delight in translating into German this book, now rare even in Italy, and presenting it to my most worthy countrymen.

I could well have taken herein the opportunity to rebuke the Germans generally in that, for most of them, their country does not yet provide those opportunities available to the Italians to bring the art of singing to the high level of perfection that it enjoyed in Italy during the time of the author I am translating. On the other hand, I could have belittled the contributions of our Italian neighbors to the art of singing, or at least have tried to divide the credit between Italy and her neighbors.