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What is the difference between overture and prelude?

overture | prelude |

In lang=en terms the difference between overture and prelude

is that overture is a musical introduction to a piece of music while prelude is a short piece of music that acts as an introduction to a longer piece.

As nouns the difference between overture and prelude

is that overture is an opening; a recess or chamber while prelude is an introductory or preliminary performance or event; a preface.

As a verb prelude is

to introduce something, as a prelude.

overture

English

(wikipedia overture)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (obsolete) An opening; a recess or chamber.
  • * Chapman
    • the cave's inmost overture
  • (obsolete) disclosure; discovery; revelation
  • * Shakespeare
    • It was he / That made the overture of thy treasons to us.
  • (often in plural) An approach or proposal made to initiate communication, establish a relationship etc.
  • * {{quote-news
    • , year=2012 , date=April 23 , author=Angelique Chrisafis , title=François Hollande on top but far right scores record result in French election , work=the Guardian citation , page= , passage=Sarkozy gave a defiant speech, going on the offensive and betraying no hint of having been beaten. He styled the result as a "crisis" vote, by a French population which was "suffering". In a clear overture to Le Pen's voters, and the extreme-right motto of loving France, he said: "I call on all French people who put love of their country above partisan considerations, to unite and join me."}}
  • * 1994 , Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom , Abacus 2010, p. 20:
    • My mother had no choice; one did not turn down such an overture from the regent.
  • (Scotland) A motion placed before a legislative body, such as the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
  • (music) a musical introduction to a piece of music.

    • Antonyms

    * (opening of a piece of music) coda

    Related terms

    * overt

    Anagrams

    * ----

    prelude

    English

    Alternative forms

    * (archaic)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An introductory or preliminary performance or event; a preface.
  • (music) A short piece of music that acts as an introduction to a longer piece.

    • Verb

    (prelud)
  • To introduce something, as a prelude.
  • To play an introduction or prelude; to give a prefatory performance.
  • * Sir Walter Scott
    • The musicians preluded on their instruments.
  • * Jeffrey
    • We are preluding too largely, and must come at once to the point.

    References

    * ----