a., adv., sb. Mus. [It.; = airy, f. aria air.] Ariose, melodious. Used of instrumental music, it describes a sustained, vocal style; of vocal music ‘it would seem to mean that kind of air which, partaking both of the character of air and recitative, requires rather to be said than sung’ (Hullah, in Grove, Dict. Mus., 1879). Hence used advb. as a musical direction, and subst. of a piece of music of this description.
1742. [see prec.]
1787. Burns, Wks., III. 91. In arioso trills and graces.
1879. Hopkins, in Grove, Dict. Mus., I. 23. A solo … of an arioso character.
1879. Hullah, ibid., I. 83/1. Mendelssohn’s ‘But the Lord is mindful’ … [is] marked ‘Arioso.’
