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

/ ˌæ-; ˌɑːrɪˈəʊzəʊ /

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

Arioso in the recitative indicates an interpolated passage of vocal melody.

From Project Gutenberg

His 2nd Arioso with twelve variations is worth the notice of pianists in search of something unfamiliar.

From Project Gutenberg

To have set them in the sustained arioso style of Tristan und Isolde would have been as impossible as it would have been inept.

From Project Gutenberg

The recitative itself became more characteristic and was diversified with short arioso passages.

From Project Gutenberg

His forms are very free, and the recitative is almost wholly in the arioso style with full orchestral accompaniment.

From Project Gutenberg