An oratorio can be both secular and religious.
An oratorio is a large vocal and instrumental dramatic work based on a sacred subject. The main difference between an oratorio and an opera is that an oratorio has no staging or costumes.
Oratorio
The most important vocal genres in Baroque music were opera and oratorio
Sacred music
An oratorio is a concert piece for orchestra, chorus, and soloist, which is typically based on stories from The Bible. Operas a full theatrical productions with sets and costumes, and the plots are generally secular.
An oratorio is a concert piece for orchestra, chorus, and soloist, which is typically based on stories from The Bible. Operas a full theatrical productions with sets and costumes, and the plots are generally secular.
An oratorio is a piece of music which is especially based on one or a series of incidents relating to a religion. Most of the oratorios were composed in Baroque period; Handel and J. S. Bach were among principal composers. An oratorio is a large scale work for orchestra and a vocal choir and some examples are Messiah (Handel) and Christmas Oratorio (Bach).
Douglas Young has written: 'The listeners' -- subject(s): Cantatas, Secular, Secular Cantatas, Vocal scores
Gerard Victory has written: 'Quartetto' -- subject(s): Cantatas, Secular, Secular Cantatas, Vocal scores
A Madrigal is secular vocal music. A Motet is, for all intents and purposes, a sacred Madrigal; meaning it is religious vocal music.
Sacred vocal forms of the Renaissance period included the motet, mass, and chanson spirituelle. Secular vocal forms included the madrigal, chanson, and villancico. These forms were often written for small groups of singers and showcased intricate polyphony and expressive text settings.
An instrumental introduction to an large work, like an oratorio or opera.