Overture vs. Prelude: What's the Difference?

An instrumental composition intended especially as an introduction to an extended work, such as an opera or oratorio.

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

A similar orchestral work intended for independent concert performance.

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.

An introductory section or part, as of a poem; a prelude.

A similar but independent composition for the piano.

An act, offer, or proposal that indicates readiness to undertake a course of action or open a relationship.

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

To present as an introduction or proposal.

A short composition of the 1400s and early 1500s written in a free style, usually for keyboard.

To present or make an offer or proposal to.

To serve as a prelude to.

(obsolete) An opening; a recess or chamber.

To introduce with or as if with a prelude.

(obsolete) Disclosure; discovery; revelation.

To serve as a prelude or introduction.

(often in plural) An approach or proposal made to initiate communication, establish a relationship etc.

An introductory or preliminary performance or event.

(Scotland) A motion placed before a legislative body, such as the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

(music) 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.

(music) A musical introduction to a piece of music, or a play.

(programming) A standard module or library of subroutines and functions to be imported, generally by default, into a program.

(intransitive) To make overtures; to approach with a proposal.

(figurative) A forerunner to anything.

An opening or aperture; a recess; a chamber.

To introduce something, as a prelude.

Disclosure; discovery; revelation.

To play an introduction or prelude; to give a prefatory performance.

A proposal; an offer; a proposition formally submitted for consideration, acceptance, or rejection.

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.

A composition, for a full orchestra, designed as an introduction to an oratorio, opera, or ballet, or as an independent piece; - called in the latter case a concert overture.

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

To make an overture to; as, to overture a religious body on some subject.

To introduce with a previous performance; to play or perform a prelude to; as, to prelude a concert with a lively air.

Orchestral music played at the beginning of an opera or oratorio

To serve as prelude to; to precede as introductory.

Something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows;

Something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows;

A tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of others;

Music that precedes a fugue or introduces an act in an opera

Serve as a prelude or opening to

Play as a prelude