prélude

Prélude, in music, is a short piece that serves as an introduction to a larger work or as a standalone composition. The term comes from the French prélude, from the Latin preludium, meaning “a thing played before.” In Western classical practice, preludes are used to set mood, explore a tonal idea, or inaugurate a larger structure such as a suite, a cycle, or a suite of dances.

Historically, preludes originated in the Baroque period as improvisatory or freely structured pieces that opened more substantial works. They accompanied instrumental suites, fugues, and vocal or dramatic works, and the German term Präludium appears in titles from this era. In the keyboard repertoire, Johann Sebastian Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier features a paired collection of preludes and fugues in all major and minor keys, illustrating both the preludes’ variety and their role as precursors to more complex movements. The Romantic era expanded the concept into standalone sets, with Chopin’s 24 Preludes, Op. 28, exploring a wide emotional and technical range within a compact form. Early 20th-century composers such as Claude Debussy further transformed the genre; his Préludes for piano (two books) are highly programmatic and often titled descriptively, emphasizing mood and imagery over strict key relationships.

In practice, a prélude can function as an opening, a mood piece, a character sketch, or an autonomous work. The form has produced a broad spectrum of approaches, from improvisatory and transitional pieces to tightly organized, expressive character studies, across instruments and ensembles. Notable examples include Bach’s preludes in the Well-Tempered Clavier, Chopin’s Op. 28 set, and Debussy’s Préludes.