The reader should not expect that all genres of vocal pieces both large and small will be listed here. It is not necessary to give them the same amount of attention, as they are not all equally important. A song or an Ariette, performed at the piano amongst good friends, does not require the kind of attention which must be devoted to the performance of a grand aria sung in public. It is our aim here to discuss only those vocal pieces with which a singer, at certain times and in different places, performs as a true artist.

There are occasions when a singer has to sightread. In this case, the same precision and subtlety which is expected of a singer who has had the time to prepare cannot be taken for granted. The unrehearsed singer achieves enough if, in addition to singing in pitch and at the right tempo, he does not completely deprive the audience of the essential beauty of the music. Our German virtuosi have an advantage over the Italians in sightsinging. The reason for this may be that they take the trouble to learn some instrument in addition to singing. Moreover, in most of our schools, the so-called choir singers have to sing so much that there is not always enough time left for adequate preparation.