Oratorio

[Sarah]

A more or less dramatic text or poem, founded on some Scripturenerrative, or great divine event, elaborately set to music, inrecitative, arias, grand choruses, etc., to be sung with anorchestral accompaniment, but without action, scenery, or costume,although the oratorio grew out of the Mysteries and the Miracle andPassion plays, which were acted.

[Sonia]

a piece of music for orchestra and singers that tells a story, usually on a religious subject, without acting

[Sonia]

A large-scale musical work for orchestra and voices, typically a narrative on a religious theme, performed without the use of costumes, scenery, or action. Well-known examples include Bachs Christmas Oratorio, Handels Messiah, and Haydns The Creation.