HIGHER Q & A 20: What is the difference between a mass and an oratorio?

Question: What is the difference between a mass and an oratorio?

Answer:

There are similarities:

both are large scale religious works for soloists, chorus and orchestra.

However:

an oratorio can be based on any religious story, but...

a mass sets to music the same text every time. Every mass uses the same words! 5 main sections make up the mass. These are: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus and Agnus Dei. Listen for these words being sung.

Masses are normally sung in Latin.

Early (Renaissance) masses were performed by unaccompanied voices (a cappella).

Here is the Kyrie from a mass by the Renaissance composer Palestrina. Notice the polyphonic texture, imitation, use of melisma.

Here is an excerpt from another Renaissance mass, this time the Gloria. 

Here is an aria from an oratorio - 

This is a chorus from an oratorio - 

In a multiple choice question, you are unlikely to be asked to identify one of them where both concepts are in the same list.