Aria (It.: ‘air’)
- Jack Westrup,
- Marita P. McClymonds,
- Julian Budden,
- Andrew Clements,
- Tim Carter,
- Thomas Walker,
- Daniel Heartz
- and Dennis Libby
Extract
A term normally signifying any closed lyrical piece for solo voice (exceptionally for more than one voice) with or without instrumental accompaniment, either independent or forming part of an opera, oratorio, cantata or other large work. It has also been applied to instrumental music, particularly in the 17th and 18th centuries, implying a piece written on a vocal model, a subject suitable for variations or a piece of light dance music. Like ...
