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# Grand Oratorios An oratorio tells a story through music, performed by solo singers, a choir, and an orchestra. Unlike operas, oratorios typically do not include scenery or costumes. Initially, oratorios focused on religious stories from the Bible, but composers now draw inspiration from literat...

# Grand Oratorios An oratorio tells a story through music, performed by solo singers, a choir, and an orchestra. Unlike operas, oratorios typically do not include scenery or costumes. Initially, oratorios focused on religious stories from the Bible, but composers now draw inspiration from literature and historical events as well. Here are some examples of grand oratorios: * **The Creation (1798) by Franz Joseph Haydn:** This oratorio tells the story of creation from emptiness to the Garden of Eden. Soloists portray the archangels and first humans. * **The Death of Captain Cook (1978) by Anne Boyd:** This oratorio depicts the life of the British explorer James Cook, focusing on his time in Hawaii and interactions with Indigenous peoples. * **Belshazzar's Feast (1931) by William Walton:** This oratorio tells the story of Belshazzar, the king of Babylon, and his feast. A divine hand appears and warns him of his impending doom. * **A Child of Our Time (1941) by Michael Tippett:** Inspired by World War II, this oratorio centers on a young Jewish refugee who triggered riots in Nazi Germany. * **Carmina Burana (1936) by Carl Orff:** Based on medieval poems, this oratorio combines chanting, percussion, and theatrical elements, making it a popular and recognizable contemporary composition. * **Messiah (1741) by George Frideric Handel:** This oratorio tells the story of the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus Christ, from His birth, miracles, crucifixion, death, and resurrection. An example of a modern interpretation is provided by the English National Opera. * **St. Luke's Passion (1966) by Krzysztof Penderecki:** This avant-garde oratorio features an almost atonal style, employing three choruses, a boys' choir, and an organ/brass section. * **A Dylan Thomas Trilogy (1976) by John Corigliano:** Based on the poems of Dylan Thomas, this oratorio is built around themes of memory and grief. * **Nâzim (2001) by Fazil Say:** This oratorio delves into the life and works of Turkish revolutionary poet Nazim Hikmet. A large orchestra participates.