arioso

[ ahr-ee-oh-soh, ar-; Italian ah-ryaw-saw ]

adjective

1. in the manner of an air or melody.

noun

, plural a·rio·sos.

1. an arioso composition or section.

arioso

/ ˌɑːrɪˈəʊzəʊ; ˌæ- /

noun

1. music a recitative with the lyrical quality of an aria

Word History and Origins

Origin of arioso¹

1735–45; < Italian: literally, songlike. See aria, -ose ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of arioso¹

C18: from Italian, from aria

Example Sentences

Short ariettas and ariosos keep “Serse,” a comic love story, moving along.

From New York Times

Reviewing the St. Louis premiere for The Times, Anthony Tommasini wrote, “Restless vocal lines shift from plaintive lyrical phrases, to sputtered outbursts, to a style that seems a jazz equivalent of Italianate arioso.”

From New York Times

Later, that arioso’s darkness returns — a reminder, even a relapse — but is fought off by majestic chords.

From New York Times

Monteverdi’s writing in the “Vespers” is organized around a dazzling array of what, for him, were old and new forms: hymn, Gregorian chant, polyphony, operatic monody, arioso and embellished virtuoso singing.

From New York Times

We began with Monteverdi’s “The Coronation of Poppea,” which has long stretches of dramatically charged arioso — a quasi-melodic style that requires crisp delivery of the text.

From New York Times