The Musician and Master

...disturbance original: "boroto", which had occurred in a place in Biscay: and when the decrees stated: and by the grace of God, King of Castile, of Leon, of Aragon, etc. They replied: King and Queen we obey, but "Etcetera" we do not know. I remember very well that Aristotle in the third book of the Rhetoric says: What is brief is always more delightful original: "Quod breuis est, semper est delectabilius"; but neither have I forgotten what he wrote in the first book, where he says: If it is said through more words, that which is said will be clearer original: "Si per plura dictum fuerit, magis planum erit quod dicitur". Let whoever wishes say that for beginners, brevity is never clear, nor does it ever bring with it enough light to illuminate fully and perfectly. But neither great brevity nor excessive wordiness is of benefit to the newcomer to the profession; and this is according to the opinion of the said Philosopher Aristotle, who clearly says: Every speech, if it is shorter than it ought to be, obscures the understanding; if it is longer, it will be difficult to retain, and induces forgetfulness in the student original: "Omnis sermo, si breuior fuerit quam oportet, obscurat intellectum; si longior, difficilis erit retentioni, & discipulo obliuionem inducit.". I have no doubt that for one to be a good singer and a good composer of counterpoint Contrapuntista: a specialist in counterpoint, the art of combining different melodic lines, any brief little manual is not enough to make him such. But your Graces should also believe that for one to be perfected and to be a true Musician, long and copious Treatises are sometimes necessary, so that through Theory, Practice may be better enlightened. Although some impatient people, fond of becoming Musicians in four days (and these without effort), dare to judge what they do not understand or know, saying that many superfluous and impertinent things are found in such works. Now, without me saying it, you see the volume that this Treatise makes; and without proceeding further, at first glance everyone will say: You have written in the Attic style original: "Attice scripsisti," a reference to the refined, concise style of Athens. Despite all this, I do not fail to point out that the work is not as wordy as it seems, but rather that in it this Art is treated comprehensively and through demonstrations, setting Theory within Practice, by which one proceeds unto infinity. And so it was done, not to displease the friends of brevity, but to console those fond of Music, and to benefit those who wish to be true disciples of this most patient Teacher. Finally, I imagine that these labors of mine will not please, not even a little, the Roosters of Aesop A reference to Aesop's fable where a rooster finds a pearl but prefers a grain of corn; i.e., those who cannot appreciate value; but I shall remain very satisfied, provided they please a single Antigenidas A famous ancient Greek flute player and the Muses; and as that other man said: Plato is enough for me original: "Sufficit mihi Plato". For the rest, through the mouth of Horace, I say:

Now he who praises the song of Numa, and wants to seem
To be the only one to know that which he, like me, is ignorant of;
He does not favor genius, and applauds those long buried:
But he attacks our works: the Envious man hates us and ours.
original: "Iam falsare Numa carmen..." from Horace's Epistles, Book II

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A Poem Against the Envious Man, by Giovanni Serafinelli.

Couplet by Battista Sebastiano Fontanella, to the Reader.

Whoever you are who desires to know the heavenly songs,
This is the work of CERONE: you have enough, Reader.

The Author to his book.

If there be anyone who says you have grown by theft i.e., plagiarism,
And says you have scarcely anything of your own;
Do not, refined book, oppose his biting words;
Only say this: What have others taught that was their own?

The Author to the Reader.

Reader, whoever you are, look, read, learn, and maintain the will to show it; because (as Cato says) to read and not to understand is to neglect.