Observations On The Florid Song; Or, Sentiments On The Ancient and Modern Singers

Let the singer take care that the higher the notes, the more necessary it is to touch them with softness.

Let the singer learn the manner to glide with the vowels and to drag the voice gently from the higher to lower notes.

Let the singer take care that the words are uttered in such a manner that they be distinctly understood and no one syllable lost.

In repeating the air the singer that does not vary it for better is no great master.

Whoever does not know how to steal the time (il rubamento di tempo) in singing is destitute of the best taste and knowledge.

The stealing of time is an honourable theft in one that sings better than others provided he makes restitution with ingenuity.

Oh how great a master is the heart? - Pier Francesco Tosi