Prelude is a type of music genre. In the past, the prelude was just an instrumental introduction before the suite. Before the performance, the performer usually had to improvise a short section, which gradually evolved into an art form. Preludes are also used in operas to replace overtures. They have a free form and are generally based on music from the play. They are used before the main scene. In the 17th century, publishers would print preludes as advertisements before publishing scores.

Introduction nature:

Early preludes have the nature of an introduction and are often played before other music in the same mode or key. In the seventeenth and mid-eighteenth centuries, preludes were often combined with fugues to form suites, or used as the first piece of a suite.

Preludes after the 19th century mostly had no introduction function and became independent small and medium-sized instrumental music with improvisational characteristics, and were often compiled into collections, such as "Twenty-Four Preludes" by Chopin. (Op.28), some of the music has the style of etudes with a single motive, and some have the characteristics of lyrical nocturnes.

Extended information:

Song features:

The prelude "Although the sparrow is small", it has "all the five internal organs". It is by no means an easy task to express a distinctive and personalized musical language and image in a short space of time with refined writing techniques. The creation of a prelude is a touchstone to measure the level of a composer's piano writing and the maturity of his techniques. It is also the only way for everyone who is aspiring to reach the peak of piano music creation.