oratorio

Where does the word "oratorio" come from? It comes from Italian oratorio, and was adopted directly into English (1650s).

Oratorio’s story begins in Italian: oratorio meant “a place of prayer.” Named for the prayer hall where the musical form of sung religious narrative began. It reached English by 1650s as oratorio. Named after the Oratory of St Philip Neri in Rome, where such works were performed. Today, oratorio means a large-scale musical composition for voices and orchestra, usually on a religious theme.

1. Stage 1 · Italian · 1600s oratorio "a place of prayer", named for the prayer hall where the musical form of sung religious narrative began.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1650s oratorio "a large-scale musical work on a religious theme", named after the Oratory of St Philip Neri in Rome, where such works were performed.