aria
AR-ree-uh
[Italian, air]
Originally an air; a song; a tune; sung by a single voice with or without accompaniment. Now taken to mean a lyric song for solo voice generally having two contrasting parts (I and II), ending with a literal or elaborated repeat of part I. The aria first developed into this form in the early operas; the arias found in an opera, cantata or oratorio usually express intense emotion.
Example
Baroque: George Frideric Handel: Messiah, No. 9, "O thou that tellest"
Romantic: Georges Bizet: Carmen, "Habanera"
Classical: Ludwig Amadeus Mozart: The Magic Flute, Act II, "Oh Isis and Osiris"
Giuseppe Verdi: Rigoletto, "La donna è mobile"
Post-Romantic: Giacomo Puccini: Gianni Schicchi, "O mio babbino caro"
See Also
[English] air[English] ayre
[German] Arie
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Last Updated: 2016-04-29 19:28:16