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n. An introductory performance, event, or action preceding a more important one; a preliminary or preface.

n. Music A piece or movement that serves as an introduction to another section or composition and establishes the key, such as one that precedes a fugue, opens a suite, or precedes a church service.

n. Music A similar but independent composition for the piano.

n. Music The overture to an oratorio, opera, or act of an opera.

n. Music A short composition of the 15th and early 16th centuries written in a free style, usually for keyboard.

v. To serve as a prelude to.

v. To introduce with or as if with a prelude.

verb-intransitive. To serve as a prelude or introduction.

n. An introductory or preliminary performance or event; a preface.

n. A short piece of music that acts as an introduction to a longer piece.

v. To introduce something, as a prelude.

n. An introductory performance, preceding and preparing for the principal matter; a preliminary part, movement, strain, etc.; especially (Mus.), a strain introducing the theme or chief subject; a movement introductory to a fugue, yet independent; -- with recent composers often synonymous with overture.

verb-intransitive. To play an introduction or prelude; to give a prefatory performance; to serve as prelude.

v. To introduce with a previous performance; to play or perform a prelude to.

v. To serve as prelude to; to precede as introductory.

To preface; prepare the way for; introduce as by a prelude; foreshadow.

Specifically, in music, to play a prelude to; introduce by a musical prelude.

To serve as a prelude to; precede as a musical prelude.

To perform a prelude or introduction; give a preface to later action; especially, in music, to play a prelude, or introductory passage or movement, before beginning a principal composition.

To serve as a prelude or introduction; especially, to constitute a musical prelude.

n. An introductory performance; a preliminary to an action, event, or work of broader scope and higher importance; a preface; presage; foreshadowing.

n. In music, a prefatory or introductory piece, section, or movement, either extended and more or less independent, as in many elaborate fugues, in suites and sonatas, in oratorios and operas, or brief and strictly connected with what is to follow, as in various shorter works and at the opening of church services and before hymns. The organ prelude to a church service is often called a voluntary. Compare intrada, introduction, overture, vorspiel, etc.

n. Synonyms Preface, etc. (see introduction), preliminary.

n. See overture

v. play as a prelude

n. something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows

v. serve as a prelude or opening to

n. music that precedes a fugue or introduces an act in an opera

"The move from women in tutus doing story ballets like Swan Lake to people in sweat pants running around the stage like gymnasts while a Bach prelude is played over the PA system did a great deal to marginalize the popularity of ballet."

preluded    preludes    preluding   

play    spiel    origination    origin    inception    serve    function   

introduction    forerunner   

preluded    preluding   

preface    forerunner    precursor    preamble    preliminary    harbinger    introduction    introduce    forerun   

interlude    prologue    symphony    colouring    overture    accompaniment    peroration    duet    preface    aria