ABSTRACT
The hiring of musicians was often the personal choice of a noble sponsor. Musicians are often hired for a short time only–in many cases for only one or a very few performances. To understand the attempts of musicians, political parties, and similar groups to improve the economic security of musicians, it may help to first look at their style of life. Regardless of the nature of income, composers’ earnings tend to be the most irregular for most of history. Throughout history, the economic situation of musicians has changed with the general economic conditions. For most of history, the income of the lyricist or librettist tended to be even more precarious than that of composers or performers. The majority of musicians would like to enjoy a fixed salary, if possible on a permanent basis. Musicians devoted much energy to organizing to obtain the right of pension, a movement that naturally encountered great difficulties.
