Look up: oratorio

1. 
   Oratorio
   An oratorio is a musical setting of religious incidents scored for an orchestra, choir, or solo voices on a scale larger and more dramatic than a cantata. The term originates from the 16th century when the first oratory was performed in Rome.
   Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/nol.php
   
   
2. 
   Oratorio
   Or`a·to'ri·o noun [ Italian , from Latin oratorius belonging to praying. See Orator , and confer Oratory .] 1. (Mus.) 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 costu ...
   Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/webster/O/28
   
   
3. 
   Oratorio
   An `oratorio` is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. The oratorio was somewhat modeled after the opera. Their similarities include the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias. However, opera is musical theatre, while oratorio is strictly a concert piece, though they are sometimes staged as operas. There is little or no interaction between the characters, no props ...
   Found on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oratorio
   
   
4. 
   Oratorio
   • (n.) 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, w...
   Found on http://thinkexist.com/dictionary/meaning
   
   
5. 
   oratorio
   a large-scale musical composition on a sacred or semisacred subject, for solo voices, chorus, and orchestra. An oratorio`s text is usually based on ... [10 related articles]
   Found on http://www.britannica.com/eb/a-z/o/26
   
   
6. 
   oratorio
   oratorio (ôrutôr'ēō) , musical composition employing chorus, orchestra, and soloists and usually, but not necessarily, a setting of a sacred libretto without stage action or scenery. The immediate forerunner of oratorio, Emilio del Cavaliere's sacred opera La rappresentaz...
   Found on http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/ent/A08367