“World Read-Aloud Day”—that’s what the cheerful announcer on the morning newscast declared this morning, as we were eating our breakfast in a hotel near Little Rock, Arkansas. Behind him stood a bevy of young students and a large stuffed “dog” known as “Clifford.” The kids cheered, thrilled to be shown on TV.

How things have changed. Not so long ago, most people in Western culture would have marked this day as Ash Wednesday, whether broadcast on TV or not. Ash Wednesday means many things theologically, but in practical terms (for centuries) it launched a stretch of weeks when popular culture lurched into a state of dormancy.

In practical terms, theaters and opera houses ablaze with light the previous night (Fassnacht, Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday) would now be shut for 40 days. In today’s terms, that would be the equivalent of pulling the plug on movies, television, and digital entertainment. Beyond that, the culture’s diet shifted from meat, dairy, sweets, alcohol, and even eggs, to whatever fell outside of those categories. There was no joking around with the strict period of fasting and penitence known as Lent.

Music was a beneficiary of Lent, as an entire genre of “spiritual drama” grew up. We call it oratorio and its origins go back to Counter-Reformation Florence. By the end of the 17th century, oratorio was developing into a full-evening’s entertainment, employing singers and musicians from the opera stage, as well as the same composers and text writers (librettists). But not the costume, make-up, and set designers, for oratorio was neither costumed nor staged. Those were the provisions that allowed it to “qualify” as appropriate edification during Lent.

But were these limitations? As it turned out, not at all. Oratorio is spectacular at opening up new dramatic possibilities. It is an art that sparks the imagination. Staging the “Parting of the Red Sea” is difficult. But describing it in song, or portraying it in instrumental music, that’s endlessly creative and much easier.

And since oratorios focused on biblical stories and the lives of the Saints, they were filled with cataclysmic events both man-made and miraculous. Consequently, fantastic texts and vivid music abounded in oratorio. These did much to intensify especially the Baroque and Romantic styles.

Once again, art is interwoven with culture. And that’s why you’ll find Unit 6 in the Table of Contents of Discovering Music with the name “Liturgical Calendar, Street Parties, and the New Church Music.” Plus, it was a great excuse for us to add in all those colorful Mardi Gras pictures!