Aria

   Operatic composition developing from the late 16th century for solo singer with instrumental accompaniment characterized by a clear meter and significant musical structure such as strophic, ABA (da capo), sonata form, etc., which usually requires much repetition of short phrases of sung text. Arias for more than one singer are termed duets, trios, etc. A large group singing an aria is a chorus. The aria conveys a character’s emotional reaction to a dramatic situation. In sacred music, this function is largely confined to oratorios and passions. Otherwise, segments of a Neapolitan style mass or verses within a church cantata were commonly set as arias to make them musically substantial without explicit dramatic function.

   See also Recitative.