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Oratorio

2 stages from Italian to English.

Today it means a large-scale musical composition for voices and orchestra, usually on a religious theme
1
Stage 1 of 2
oratorio
Italian · 1600s
"a place of prayer"
named for the prayer hall where the musical form of sung religious narrative began
2
Stage 2 of 2
oratorio
English · 1650s
"a large-scale musical work on a religious theme"
adopted directly for the large-scale sung religious narrative
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