The English Oratorio, pioneered by George Frideric Handel, originated during the Baroque period, in the early 18th century. It is a large sacred but non-liturgical type of composition whose lyrics tell a storyline, which is not usually staged (as opposed to the opera). The English (or Handelian) Oratorio, was created as a mixture of the "English masque and anthem, French classical drama, Italian opera seria and oratorio volgare, and the German Protestant oratorio" (Sadie). The sample piece used in the following comparison will be the well-known "Hallelujah" chorus by G.F. Handel. It is contained in the last scene of "Part II: The Passion" of Handel's "Messiah".

Gospel music is the combination of lyrics of Christian hymns with African musical devices taken from work and church songs from the 18th and 19th centuries. This way, it incorporates elements also present in bluegrass, blues, jazz, and ragtime, all of which see the influence of the same songs with African roots. Gospel music started in its purest form around the 1920's, when Sanctified churches allowed expression of religious faith. The popularizer of Gospel music in the decades of the 20's and the 30's was Thomas Dorsey, who wrote around 500 songs. His most famous composition is "Precious Lord, Take my Hand". This song will be used as an example of Gospel in the following comparison.