It will be sufficient for our purpose in treating this question to take the definition of this Italian word “Oratorio,” which answers to the Latin and German “Oratorium” — the definition that you will find at the beginning of a very admirable article on the subject in Grove's Dictionary (to which I am much indebted), and which is couched in these words : “A Sacred Poem, usually of a dramatic character, sung throughout by Solo Voices and Chorus, to the accompaniment of a full Orchestra, but—at least in modern times —without the assistance of Scenery, Dresses, or Action.”