Basic Emotions and Performance by Lyric Singers

Abstract

This article examines the importance of basic emotions in vocal expression, addressing the complexity of the definition of the term "emotion" and proposing a perspective that understands it as an action directed towards the other, involving physical and psychological factors. An exploratory case study was conducted, utilising a sample selected by accessibility, and a questionnaire was administered to lyric singers of the four main vocal tessituras. The study offers insights into the opinions of these musical performers. It highlights a gap in singing courses, as evidenced by the fact that 35% of participants admitted to not knowing the theories of basic emotions. The performance evaluation indicates that 66.7% of the participants believe they have a good transmission of basic emotions while recognising the need for improvement. Surprise is identified by 23.7% as the most challenging emotion, and remarkably, only 10% perceive sadness as the most difficult, indicating a consensus view that it is the easiest to interpret. The results of this study provide a comprehensive overview of the perception and application of basic emotions in vocal interpretation, highlighting gaps in teaching and suggesting ways to improve them.