SRS - please do not think of this as an "arguement". This is a discussion and there are no hard feelings meant. You stated an opinion and I offered my own. Neither one of us, nor anyone else on this thread, is making definitive statements as to what should.

"This is the light I would like to see shine more on the songs rather than whether the lyrics are read out of a book or memorized. We are not automatons who robotically spout lyrics and songs that are over a century old. This is bloodless academia in my opinon. We have a historical and cultural right to internalize the music of our forebears and make it our own. Whether we do this with RUS or by memory doesn't matter."

Frank, I think your few sentences have summed up what the essence of what I and others have been trying to express in this lengthy thread.   Sing for the song!