in the Italian music, a sort of sacred drama of dialogues; containing recitatives, duetos, trios, ritornellos, choruses, &c. The subjects of those pieces are usually taken from scripture, or the life of some saint, &c. The music for the oratorios should be in the finest taste and best chosen strains. These oratorios are greatly used at Rome in the time of Lent, and of late in England.