operas

The early cantatas after Grandi were written by Italian composers, most in secular style (cantata da camera, “chamber cantata”), but some in sacred manner (cantata da chiesa, “church cantata”) and all in the vernacular language, Italian.

An Opera and Oratorio tells a story or libretto that the composer then creates music to accompany it. The main difference between an Opera and an Oratorio is that the story of an Opera is secular meaning anything not sacred, and the story of an Oratorio is Sacred. In most Operas, there is a Recitative and an Aria.

The term ‘cantata’, invented in Italy in the 17th century, refers to a piece of music written for voice or voices and instruments. It applies broadly to works for solo voice, multiple soloists, vocal ensemble, and with instrumental accompaniment of keyboard or instrumental ensemble.

An oratorio is usually a sacred subject, with the story told by soloists and choruses. There is no action, set or costumes. A cantata is shorter than an oratorio, not as heavy or as long, and is not necessarily sacred music, but can be.

The oratorio’s “Hallelujah Chorus” occurs at the close of part two. Many of the choruses in the oratorio feature a similar blending of musical textures, with homophonic and polyphonic passages appearing in turn.

The main difference between the two was that oratorio was sung by a choir and soloists who stood in place, without acting out the drama. This was probably due to the intrinsic decorum required in narrating sacred texts: elaborate acting, scenery, and costumes would have seemed out of place in the church at that time.

Oratorio: A large-scale religious work performed by solo singers, chorus, and orchestra without staging, scenery or costumes.

Which is true of an oratorio? An oratorio uses a chorus and soloists, as well as instrumentalists. Handel composed most of his operas and oratorios in: Handel knew how to follow the tastes of the public in his compositional style.

Like an opera, an oratorio includes 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 oratorios are sometimes staged as operas, and operas are sometimes presented in concert form.

Oratorios usually contain:

• An overture, for instruments alone.
• Various arias, sung by the vocal soloists.
• Recitative, usually employed to advance the plot.
• Choruses, often monumental and meant to convey a sense of glory. Frequently the instruments for oratorio choruses include timpani and trumpets.

Some of the qualities most frequently associated with the Baroque are grandeur, sensuous richness, drama, dynamism, movement, tension, emotional exuberance, and a tendency to blur distinctions between the various arts.