Prelude

The prelude is a short instrumental composition, historically an introductory piece improvised or written to precede a larger work or to test an instrument and establish a key, which developed into an independent character piece. In *J.S. Bach*'s "Well-Tempered Clavier" preludes pair with fugues in every key as studies in figuration; *Chopin*'s 24 Préludes, Op. 28 made the prelude an autonomous miniature of concentrated mood, a model extended by *Debussy*, *Scriabin*, *Rachmaninoff* and *Shostakovich*. Usually built on a single rhythmic or figurative idea sustained throughout, the prelude remains a staple of keyboard repertoire and recording.