ARPEGGIONE, a musical instrument whose nature is indi cated by its alternative name of guitar violoncello; that is to say, it was shaped like a guitar but played with a bow, being about the size of a viol da gamba or small violoncello. It was invented by G. Staufer, of Vienna, in 1823, but was never taken up and is now remembered only by reason of the fact that Schubert wrote a sonata for it.