oratorio

[ awr-uh-tawr-ee-oh, -tohr-, or- ]

/ ˌɔr əˈtɔr iˌoʊ, -ˈtoʊr-, ˌɒr- /

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noun, plural or·a·to·ri·os.

an extended musical composition with a text more or less dramatic in character and usually based upon a religious theme, for solo voices, chorus, and orchestra, and performed without action, costume, or scenery.

Nearby words

Origin of oratorio

1625–35; < Italian: small chapel < Late Latin ōrātōrium oratory²; so named from the musical services in the church of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Rome

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for oratorio

Thenceforward he devoted himself to oratorio, in which he made his name famous for all time.
The Standard Oratorios|George P. Upton
Of course they were both singers, giving recitals together, like the Henschels, and appearing in concert and oratorio.
Vocal Mastery|Harriette Brower
He then went to London and prepared himself for oratorio under Randegger.
Sixty Years of California Song|Margaret Blake-Alverson
The Christus oratorio was given at the first concert of the festival at Heidelberg.
Musical Memories|Camille Saint-Sans

Home should be an oratorio of the memory, singing to all our after life melodies and harmonies of old-remembered joy.
Dictionary of Quotations from Ancient and Modern, English and Foreign Sources|James Wood

British Dictionary definitions for oratorio

oratorio

/ (ˌɒrəˈtɔːrɪəʊ) /

noun plural -rios

a dramatic but unstaged musical composition for soloists, chorus, and orchestra, based on a religious theme

Word Origin for oratorio

C18: from Italian, literally: oratory ², referring to the Church of the Oratory at Rome where musical services were held

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for oratorio

oratorio

"long musical composition, usually with a text based on Scripture," 1727 (in English from 1640s in native form oratory), from Italian oratorio (late 16c.), from Church Latin oratorium (see oratory (n.2)), in reference to musical services in the church of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Rome, where old mystery plays were adapted to religious services.

Culture definitions for oratorio