Changes

[[Chopin]], following an example set by Johann Nepomuk Hummel, disconnected the form from a companion piece; writing 24 preludes for piano, each a stand-alone composition although inviting the listener to believe that something was to follow. (The perfect miniature form of each denies that premise, and each is beautifully complete within itself. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rnRwqkwKtU]]) This form has been repeated successfully by Scriabin, [[Gabriel Faure|Faure]], [[Rachmaninov]], and especially [[Claude Debussy]] who, as well as his atmospheric individually named preludes for piano in 2 books (and which contain one of the most popular piano pieces ever written [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxnm-EtriX0]]), composed the tone picture “''Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune''” [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5A4CkUAazI]]  for flute and orchestra (which in itself has been considered a prelude to 20th century music.)

[[Chopin]], following an example set by Johann Nepomuk Hummel, disconnected the form from a companion piece; writing 24 preludes for piano, each a stand-alone composition although inviting the listener to believe that something was to follow. (The perfect miniature form of each denies that premise, and each is beautifully complete within itself. [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0rnRwqkwKtU]]) This form has been repeated successfully by Scriabin, [[Gabriel Faure|Faure]], [[Rachmaninov]], and especially [[Claude Debussy]] who, as well as his atmospheric individually named preludes for piano in 2 books (and which contain one of the most popular piano pieces ever written [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xxnm-EtriX0]]), composed the tone picture “''Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune''” [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5A4CkUAazI]]  for flute and orchestra (which in itself has been considered a prelude to 20th century music.)

The prelude as a preliminary or introductory piece has continued of course, with the form replacing the [[overture]] in certain [[opera]]s - or acts within operas such as some of [[Wagner]]’s; or {{Giuseppe Verdi|Verdi]]'s "''La Traviata''" [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0ojZCaYeLI]] and is often the opening movement in suites and other multi-movement works.

The prelude as a preliminary or introductory piece has continued of course, with the form replacing the [[overture]] in certain [[opera]]s - or acts within operas such as some of [[Wagner]]’s; or [[Giuseppe Verdi|Verdi]]'s "''La Traviata''" [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0ojZCaYeLI]] and is often the opening movement in suites and other multi-movement works.

[[Category: musical forms]]

[[Category: musical forms]]