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Sonata vs Prelude - What's the difference?

sonata | prelude |

In lang=en terms the difference between sonata and prelude

is that sonata is a musical composition for one or a few instruments, one of which is frequently a piano, in three or four movements that vary in key and tempo while prelude is a short piece of music that acts as an introduction to a longer piece.

As a verb prelude is

to introduce something, as a prelude.

sonata

English

(wikipedia sonata)

Noun

(en noun)
  • (music) A musical composition for one or a few instruments, one of which is frequently a piano, in three or four movements that vary in key and tempo

    • Derived terms

    * sonata form * sonatina

    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

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