What is an oratorio in music?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking for a definition and explanation of what an oratorio is in the context of music. This involves understanding its characteristics, structure, and significance in musical history.
Answer
A large-scale sacred musical composition for solo voices, chorus, and orchestra.
An oratorio is a large-scale musical composition on a sacred or semisacred subject, designed for solo voices, chorus, and orchestra.
Answer for screen readers
An oratorio is a large-scale musical composition on a sacred or semisacred subject, designed for solo voices, chorus, and orchestra.
More Information
Oratorios are often based on scriptural or religious texts and differ from operas as they are typically concert pieces and not staged with costumes or scenery.
Sources
- Encyclopedia Britannica - Oratorio - britannica.com
- Oratorio - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org
- Oratorio Definition, History & Composers - Study.com - study.com