Charles Burney

The Present State of Music in France and Italy (2nd, corrected edition)

London: T. Becket and Co., 1773

Rome

singers; then the Pope's musicians being
better paid, were consequently more like-
ly to be possessed of abilities superior to
those elsewhere: but, at present, this is
not the case, and the consequence is ob-
vious; their situation is somewhat similar
to that of our choristers and choirmen in
England, where their salaries remain at
the original establishment, and at that
point of perfection their performance
seems to remain likewise; living is dearer;
money of less value; more is given else-
where; another profession is usually
tacked to that of singing, in order to
obtain a livelihood; and church music,
of course, falls into decay, and goes from
bad to worse, while that of the threatres [sic]
receives daily improvements by additional
rewards*.