oratorio

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: or=a=to=ri=o

CIDE DICTIONARY

oratorio, n. [It., fr. L. oratorius belonging to praying. See Orator, and cf. Oratory.].

•  A more or less dramatic text or poem, founded on some Scripture nerrative, or great divine event, elaborately set to music, in recitative, arias, grand choruses, etc., to be sung with an orchestral accompaniment, but without action, scenery, or costume, although the oratorio grew out of the Mysteries and the Miracle and Passion plays, which were acted.  [1913 Webster]

  " There are instances of secular and mythological subjects treated in the form of the oratorios, and called oratorios by their composers; as Haydn's “Seasons,” Handel's “Semele,” etc."  [1913 Webster]
•  Performance or rendering of such a composition.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

oratorio, n. (pl. -os) a semi-dramatic work for orchestra and voices esp. on a sacred theme, performed without costume, scenery, or action.

Derivative

oratorial adj.

Etymology

It. f. eccl.L oratorium, orig. of musical services at church of Oratory of St Philip Neri in Rome

THESAURUS

oratorio

Negro spiritual, anthem, cantata, canticle, choral singing, chorale, chorus, church music, doxology, glee, gospel, gospel music, hymn, hymn-tune, hymnody, hymnology, introit, madrigal, madrigaletto, mass, motet, offertory, offertory sentence, paean, passion, prosodion, psalm, psalmody, recessional, requiem, requiem mass, sacred music, spiritual, unison, white spiritual

ROGET THESAURUS

oratorio

Music

N music, concert, strain, tune, air, melody, aria, arietta, piece of music, work, number, opus, sonata, rondo, rondeau, pastorale, cavatina, roulade, fantasia, concerto, overture, symphony, variations, cadenza, cadence, fugue, canon, quodlibet, serenade, notturno, dithyramb, opera, operetta, oratorio, composition, movement, stave, passamezzo, toccata, Vorspiel, instrumental music, full score, minstrelsy, tweedledum and tweedledee, band, orchestra, concerted piece, potpourri, capriccio, vocal music, vocalism, chaunt, chant, psalm, psalmody, hymn, song, canticle, canzonet, cantata, bravura, lay, ballad, ditty, carol, pastoral, recitative, recitativo, solfeggio, Lydian measures, slow music, slow movement, adagio, minuet, siren strains, soft music, lullaby, dump, dirge, pibroch, martial music, march, dance music, waltz, solo, duet, duo, trio, quartet, quartett, septett, part song, descant, glee, madrigal, catch, round, chorus, chorale, antiphon, antiphony, accompaniment, second, bass, score, bourdon, drone, morceau, terzetto, composer, musician, musical, instrumental, vocal, choral, lyric, operatic, harmonious, Wagnerian, adagio, largo, larghetto, andante, andantino, alla capella, maestoso, moderato, allegro, allegretto, spiritoso, vivace, veloce, presto, prestissimo, con brio, capriccioso, scherzo, scherzando, legato, staccato, crescendo, diminuendo, rallentando, affettuoso, obbligato, pizzicato, desto, in notes by distance made more sweet, like the faint exquisite music of a dream, music arose with its voluptuous swell, music is the universal language of mankind, music's golden tongue, the speech of angels, will sing the savageness out of a bear, music hath charms to soothe the savage beast.