The Oratorio in the classical Era is the third volume of
Howard Smither's monumental
History of the Oratorio,
continuing his synthesis and critical appraisal of the oratorio.
His comprehensive study surpasses in scope and treatment all
previous works on the subject. A fourth and final volume, on the
oratorio in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, is
forthcoming.
In this volume Smither discusses the Italian oratorio from the
1720s to the early nineteenth century and oratorios from other
parts of Europe from the 1750s to the nineteenth century. Drawing
on works that represent various types, languages, and geographical
areas, Smither treats the general characteristics of oratorio
libretto and music and analyzes twenty-two oratorios from Italy,
England, Germany, France, and Russia. He synthesizes the results of
specialized studies and contributes new material based on firsthand
study of eighteenth-century music manuscripts and printed
librettos.
Emphasizing the large number of social contexts within which
oratorios were heard, Smither discussed examples in Italy such as
the Congregation of the Oratory, lay contrafraternities, and
educational institutions. He examines oratorio performances in
German courts, London theaters and English provincial festivals,
and the Parisian Concert spirituel. Though the volume concentrates
primarily on eighteenth-century oratorio from the early to the late
Classical styles, Smither includes such transitional works as the
oratorios of Jean-Francios le Seur in Paris and Stepan Anikievich
Degtiarev in Moscow.
A History of the Oratorio is the first full-length history
of the genre since Arnold Schering's 1911 study. In addition to
synthesizing current thought about the oratorio, this volume
contributes new information on relationships between oratorio
librettos and contemporary literary and religious thought, and on
the musical differences among oratorios from different
geographical-cultural regions.
Originally published in 1987.
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