oratorios
Unstaged choral dramas
Oratorios are large-scale musical compositions for orchestra, choir, and soloists, typically setting religious or biblical texts to music.
Unlike operas, oratorios are performed without staging, costumes, or acting—the drama unfolds purely through music and words.
Handel's *Messiah* is the most famous example.
The singular is oratorio: We attended an oratorio at the cathedral.
Baroque composer of oratorios
- MessiahProphesied divine deliverer
- ElijahOld Testament prophet
- MendelssohnNineteenth-century German composer
- BachGerman composer surname
cantata · aria · recitative · chorus · soprano · tenor · bass · libretto
Handel
Baroque composer of oratorios
- MessiahProphesied divine deliverer
- ElijahOld Testament prophet
- MendelssohnNineteenth-century German composer
Bach · cantata · aria · recitative · chorus · soprano · tenor · bass · libretto · sacred
concert
Live musical performance
conductor · orchestra · premiere · staging · rehearsal · festival · audience · program · recital · ensemble
biblical
Of sacred texts
Easter · Passion · Lent · cathedral · devotional · liturgical · worship · spiritual · testament · narrative
- classical musicBach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin, Brahms
- vocal musicsong, vocals, soprano, tenor, alto
- worksmasterpieces, compositions, piece, pieces, work
- Baroquebaroque music, baroque art, Bernini, Bach, Handel
- sacred musichymns, hymn, anthem, anthems, gospel
- choral musicchoral music, choral works, choral arrangements, choral arrangement, choir arrangements
oratoriosoperas
Dramatic sung stage works
musical theater · theatrical productions · ballets · opera · grand opera
oratorioslieder
Archaic word for songs
folk songs · ditties · jingles · pop songs · miniatures
oratoriosbawdy songs
Vulgar lyrics set to music
drinking songs · madrigals · comic opera · love songs · comic operas