Oratorio: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia

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{{for|the thoroughbred racehorse|Oratorio (horse)}}

{{distinguish|Oratory (disambiguation){{!}}Oratory|Ontario}}

An '''oratorio''' ({{IPA-it|oraˈtɔːrjo}}) is a large [[musical composition]] for [[orchestra]], [[choir]], and [[solo (music)|soloists]].<ref>[[Oxford English Dictionary]]: "A large-scale, usually narrative musical work for orchestra and voices, typically on a sacred theme and performed with little or no costume, scenery, or action."</ref> Like most [[opera]]s, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and [[aria]]s. However, opera is [[musical theatre]], while oratorio is strictly a concert piece – though oratorios are sometimes staged as operas, and operas are sometimes presented in [[Concert version|concert form]]. In an oratorio, the choir often plays a central role, and there is generally little or no interaction between the characters, and no props or elaborate [[costume]]s. A particularly important difference is in the typical subject matter of the text. Opera tends to deal with [[history]] and [[mythology]], including age-old devices of [[Romantic love|romance]], [[deception]], and [[murder]], whereas the plot of an oratorio often deals with [[sacred]] topics, making it appropriate for performance in the [[church (building)|church]]. [[Catholic]] composers looked to the lives of [[saint]]s and stories from the [[Bible]] while [[Protestant]] composers only to Biblical topics. Oratorios became extremely popular in early 17th-century Italy partly because of the success of opera and the Catholic Church's prohibition of spectacles during [[Lent]]. Oratorios became the main choice of music during that period for opera audiences.

==History==