Observations on the Florid Song; Or, Sentiments on the Ancient and Modern Singers

"Observations on the Florid Song; Or, Sentiments on the Ancient and Modern Singers" by Pier Francesco Tosi is an early 18th-century Italian treatise on singing, translated into English, that examines the art of vocal performance and compares historical and contemporary singing methods. It acts as a guide for singers and instrumentalists, aimed at improving their musical skills. The book starts by explaining why vocal music matters, arguing that the voice is better than instruments. Tosi looks back at how singing was taught in the past and comments on current music, stressing the importance of proper training in areas such as intonation, decoration, and expressing emotions. The author sets the stage for exploring vocal techniques and performance, with the objective of enhancing vocal quality and preserving the true principles of music.