Prelude

Prelude (music)

A prelude is a short piece of music, the form of which may vary from piece to piece. While, during the Baroque era, for example, it may have served as an introduction to succeeding movements of a work that were usually longer and more complex, it may also have been a stand-alone piece of work during the Romantic era. It generally features a small number of rhythmic and melodic motifs that recur through the piece. Stylistically, the prelude is improvisatory in nature. The term may also refer to an overture, particularly to an opera or an oratorio.

Prelude (band)

Prelude are an English-based vocal harmony group, who in their most famous line-up consisted of Brian Hume, his wife Irene Hume (vocals) and Ian Vardy. They formed in their native Gateshead in 1970, having initially released a single in 1967 as The Carnival.

prelude

Noun

1. An introductory or preliminary performance or event.
2. A short, free-form piece of music, originally one serving as an introduction to a longer and more complex piece; later, starting with the Romantic period, generally a stand-alone piece. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}

Verb

1. To introduce something, as a prelude.
2. To play an introduction or prelude; to give a prefatory performance.