"What comprises good performance? The ability through singing or playing to make the ear conscious of the true content and affect of a composition"

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach's quote speaks to the significance of communicating the real feeling and significance of a structure through singing or playing. Great performance is not just about hitting the ideal notes, but likewise about communicating the feeling and material of the piece. This requires an entertainer to be in tune with the music and to be able to interpret the composer's intentions. It is not enough to merely play the notes, however to bring the music to life and to make the audience feel the feeling of the piece. To do this, a performer should be able to understand the music and to be able to reveal it in a way that is significant to the listener. Great performance is about more than just playing the notes, but about conveying the feeling and content of the piece.