Line #2 Main/Oratorio


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/eea5080c_e71f_4630_93bb_77bb48584d29.jpeg]]
2	%% [[caption-width-right:350:some caption text]]
3	An oratorio is a large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists. Similar in length to an opera, an oratorio has recognizable characters and some sort of narrative. Like opera, oratorios tell a story, with particular singers assigned the roles of certain characters (usually, the soloists get the lead parts and the choir plays the role of GreekChorus). But unlike operas, oratorios are strictly concert pieces, with no props or costumes. Roles are sung, but the plot is not acted out onstage.
4
5	Older oratorios are usually religious in nature, telling a story from ''Literature/TheBible'' or a saint's legend. The form was invented to keep the opera singers employed during Lent, when the theatres were closed down. However, in the 20th and 21st centuries, composers have used oratorios to cover a much wider range of subjects.
6
7	Oratorios are also similar to [[{{Cantata}} cantatas]], in that cantatas are also large-scale vocal works and occasionally identifiable characters, but they usually do not tell a story (Bach's ''[[Music/SchweigtStillePlaudertNicht Coffee Cantata]]'' is a notable exception).
8
9	The generally recognized king of oratorios is Music/GeorgeFredericHandel (much as his contemporary Music/JohannSebastianBach was the king of cantatas), who wrote lots of them because they were cheaper to produce than operas but brought in nearly as many people paying almost or just as much for the ticket (and so had higher profit margins--no fool, he). Handel's ''Messiah'' (the source of the famous Hallelujah chorus) is probably the best-known oratorio out there, though J.S. Bach's two extant oratorios, the St. Matthew Passion and the St. John Passion, are also well-known.
10	----
11	!!Examples:
12	%%Folder for each century, composers (by a-z surname, with wikilinks) as first level bullets, oratorio (date order) as second level bullet. This is one of the exceptions where a single second-level bullet may be acceptable.
13	[[foldercontrol]]
14	[[folder:17th Century]]
15	* Louis-Nicolas Clérambault
16	** ''L'histoire de la femme adultère'' ("The story of the adulterous woman"). Believed to be first performed in 1699.
17	[[/folder]]
18	[[folder:18th Century]]
19	* Music/JohannSebastianBach
20	** ''Music/StJohnPassion'' ("Passio secundum Joannem" in the original Latin, "Johannes-Passion" in Bach's native German). Anonymous libretto, very closely based on the biblical ''[[Literature/TheFourGospels Gospel of John]]'', but also incorporating poetry of unknown origin. First performed in 1724.
21	** ''Easter Oratorio'' ("Oster-Oratorium" in the original German). Librettist believed to be Picander, as the oratorio is reworked from Bach and Picander's earlier ''Shepherds' Cantata''. Based on ''Literature/TheFourGospels''. First performed in 1725.
22	** ''St Matthew Passion'' ("Passio Domini nostri J.C. secundum Evangelistam Matthæum" in the original Latin, "Matthäus-Passion" in Bach's native German). Libretto by Picander based on the biblical ''[[Literature/TheFourGospels Gospel of Matthew]]'', with some elements taken from the ''Literature/SongOfSongs'' and other sources. First performed in 1727.
23	** ''Christmas Oratorio'' ("Weihnachtsoratorium", in the original German). Librettist unknown, but suspected to be Picander. Based on ''Literature/TheFourGospels''. Intended to be performed in six parts, each on a different day of Christmas. First performed in 1734.
24	** ''Ascension Oratorio'' (Titled "Oratorium In Festo Ascensionis Xsti" by Bach, also titled in German as "Lobet Gott in seinen Reichen", which translates as "Laud to God in all his kingdoms", but widely known in German as "Himmelfahrtsoratorium"). Librettist unknown, but suspected to be Picander. Based on ''Literature/TheFourGospels'' and ''Literature/ActsOfTheApostles''. Believed to be first performed in 1738.
25	* Music/AntonioCaldara
26	** ''La Conversione di Clodoveo Re di Francia'' ('"The Conversion of Clovis, King of France"). Libretto by Carlo Capece. First performed 1715.
27	* Music/GeorgeFredericHandel
28	** ''Messiah''. Libretto by Charles Jennens, based on ''Literature/TheBible'' (specifically, the ''King James Bible'' and ''Coverdale Bible'' translations). First performed in 1742.
29	** ''An Occasional Oratorio''. Libretto by Newburgh Hamilton, based on poetry by Creator/JohnMilton and Creator/EdmundSpenser. First performed in 1746.
30	* Music/AntonioVivaldi
31	** ''Juditha triumphans devicta Holofernis barbarie'' ("Judith triumphant over the barbarians of Holofernes"), often abbreviated to ''Juditha triumphans''. Libretto (in Latin) by Iacopo Cassetti, based upon the biblical ''Literature/BookOfJudith''. Reportedly first performed in 1716.
32	[[/folder]]
33	[[folder:19th Century]]
34	* Music/MaxBruch
35	** ''Moses''. Libretto by Ludwig Spitta. First performed 1895.
36	* Music/WilliamCrotch
37	** ''Palestine''. Libretto by Reginald Heber. First performed in 1812.
38	* Music/FrederickOuseley
39	** ''The Martyrdom of St Polycarp''. First performed in 1854.
40	* Music/GeorgePerry
41	** ''Elijah and the Priests of Baal''. First performed in 1818.
42	[[/folder]]
43	[[folder:20th Century]]
44	* Music/EdwardElgar
45	** ''The Apostles'': Libretto by Elgar, based on ''Literature/TheBible''. First performed in 1903.
46	* Music/DavidEvans
47	** ''Llawenhewch yn yr Iôr'' ('"Rejoice in the Lord"): First performed in 1906.
48	[[/folder]]
49	[[folder:21st Century]]
50	* Music/RichardEinhorn
51	** ''Music/{{The Origin\|Einhorn}}''. Libretto by Einhorn and Catherine Barnett, based on the writings of UsefulNotes/CharlesDarwin. First performed in 2009.
52	* Music/JuliaWolfe
53	** ''Music/AnthraciteFields''. Libretto by Wolfe, based on speeches, interviews, history and adverts related to the UsefulNotes/{{Pennsylvania}} coal mining industry. First performed in 2014.
54	** ''Fire in my mouth ''. Libretto by Wolfe, based on oral histories of the 1911 [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle_Shirtwaist_Factory_fire Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire]]. First performed in 2019.
55	** ''Her Story''. Libretto by Wolfe, based on speeches by Sojourner Truth, letters by Abigail Adams and quotes from the American anti-suffrage movement. First performed in 2022.
56	[[/folder]]

Context Main / Oratorio