oratorio
Sign in to saveAn oratorio () is a musical composition with dramatic or narrative text for choir, soloists and orchestra or other ensemble.
AI overview
An oratorio is a large musical work that tells a story or presents a narrative through singing by a choir and soloists, accompanied by an orchestra or other musical ensemble. It combines dramatic storytelling with music, making it a significant form of musical composition that has been used to convey important themes and stories throughout history.
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Article
12 sectionsContents
- History
- Etymology
- Origins
- 1650–1700
- Late baroque
- Georgian Britain
- Classicism
- Victorian era
- 20th century
- 21st century
- See also
- References
An oratorio () is a musical composition with dramatic or narrative text for choir, soloists and orchestra or other ensemble.
Similar to opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguishable characters (e.g. soloists), and arias. However, opera is musical theatre, and typically involves significant theatrical spectacle, including sets, props, and costuming, as well as staged interactions between characters. In an oratorio, there is generally minimal staging, with the chorus often assuming a more central dramatic role, and the work is typically presented as a concert piece – though oratorios are sometimes staged as operas, and operas are not infrequently presented in concert form.