I agree with everything that Dr. Clark, Mandi, and Karen have said. Being a
good actress is quite a boon to this art, but when you REALLY feel the song
and the emotion is real then that is quite an experience. I have had it both
ways, but I think that I personally have an easier time technically when I am
"acting" and not "emoting." Sometimes I get so involved with the music that
my technique suffers.
That said, I have a couple of suggestions to add to Karen's list:
Craig Courtney has a book of Sacred Vocal Solos that has a song called BE NOT
AFRAID. Not difficult to sing but beautiful text, and I have heard that he
wrote this piece after the death of a child. Easy to emote.......
Another, which is an art song, is Michael Head's LOVE'S LAMENT. The text,
the descending melody line, the accompaniment, all make this a very
emotion-intense piece, and Head writes so beautifully for the soprano voice.
It is 20th century, however, which I always find a little strange, but it is
a great piece. I won 2nd place at Regional Nats 2 years ago, and I swear it
was this piece that did it.
Good Luck!
Leslie
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