Oratorio was founded in the spring of 1998, when Jarmo Happonen was asked by Joel Hekkala to join the band he had together with Janne Hietakangas and Lauri Joutsiniemi. At first the band played only cover songs but after some time the band started to produce their own songs. At that time the bands music was hard rock/metal. The band naturally had to get a name, so Jarmo picked up a dictionary and randomly selected the word Oratorio. Oratorio is finnish for prayer-room and epic musical peice, so it sounded like a good name for a Christian metalband.

The original lineup:

Joel Hekkala: Guitar, Vocals
Jarmo Happonen: Guitar, Vocals
Lauri Joutsiniemi: Bass
Janne Hietakangas: Drums


At first the band practiced in the prayer-room of the Nurmij