| 释义 |
oratorio|ɒrəˈtɔərɪəʊ|
[a. It. oratorio:—eccl. L. ōrātōrium, oratory n.1 In the extant sense 1, named from the musical services held in the church of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Rome in the latter half of the 16th century; these being virtually examples of the older Mystery Play improved and adapted to a religious service: see Grove Dict. Mus. s.v. Cf. F. oratorio (1739 in Hatz.-Darm.).
1644Evelyn Diary 8 Nov. [see oratory n.1 5 a]. 1670Lassels Voy. Italy II. 227 The house of these good Priests [of S. Philip Neri] deserves also to be seen..for the great Oratoryes sake, where there is every Sunday and Holyday in winter at night, the best Musick in the world. ]
1. A form of extended musical composition, of a semi-dramatic character, usually founded on a Scriptural theme, sung by solo voices and a chorus, to the accompaniment of a full orchestra, without the assistance of action, scenery, or dress.
1727–38Chambers Cycl. s.v. Opera, At Rome they have a kind of spiritual opera's, frequent in Lent... The Italians call them oratorio's. 1742Fielding Amelia iv. viii, She had a present of a ticket for the oratorio. 1756–7tr. Keysler's Trav. (1760) I. 470 In the church of St. Philippo Neri, belonging to the fathers of the oratory..Every Sunday evening, during the winter, an oratorio, or religious opera, is performed in this church, which is founded on some scripture history. 1789Mrs. Piozzi Journ. France I. 176 [They] performed an oratorio with..deserved applause. 1880W. S. Rockstro in Grove Dict. Mus. II. 534/1 The year 1600 witnessed the first performance, in Rome, of Emilio's ‘Rappresentazione’ and, in Florence, of Peri's ‘Euridice’—the earliest examples of the true Oratorio and the true Opera ever presented to the public. 1881Baring-Gould Germany ix. 249 It is in the Opera and the Oratorio that the most flourishing descendants of the old Mystery Plays are to be met with.
fig.1818T. Moore Fudge Fam. Paris x. 43 Vulgar Pall Mall's oratorio of hisses! 1838Emerson Addr., Literary Ethics Wks. (Bohn) II. 210 By Latin and English poetry, we were born and bred in an oratorio of praises of nature. 1899Abp. Alexander in Times 31 Oct. 9/5 The oratorio of the cannonade Rolls through the hills sublime.
†2. A pulpit. (So It. oratorio in Florio.) rare.
1631High Commission Cases (Camden) 230 The turning of God's oratorio, the pulpit, into a place to vent his malice upon the poore people.
3. attrib. and Comb. (from 1), as oratorio style; oratorio-frequenting adj.
1828Lights & Shades I. 255 Certain oratorio-frequenting people have censured O'Carrol. 1861Woods Pr. of Wales in Canada 140 The Montreal Oratorio Society performed..a grand Cantata specially composed. 1900Daily News 8 Feb. 6/3 The later choral compositions of Elgar..and others, which, if secular as to story, practically follow the oratorio style. |