Overture vs. Prelude — What's the Difference?

Overture (from French ouverture, lit. "opening") in music was originally the instrumental introduction to a ballet, opera, or oratorio in the 17th century.

An action or event serving as an introduction to something more important

An orchestral piece at the beginning of an opera, play, etc.

An introductory piece of music, most commonly an orchestral opening to an act of an opera, the first movement of a suite, or a piece preceding a fugue.

An introduction to something more substantial

Serve as a prelude or introduction to

An approach or proposal made to someone with the aim of opening negotiations or establishing a relationship

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

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

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.

A similar orchestral work intended for independent concert performance.

A similar but independent composition for the piano.

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

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

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

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

To present as an introduction or proposal.

To serve as a prelude to.

To present or make an offer or proposal to.

To introduce with or as if with a prelude.

(obsolete) An opening; a recess or chamber.

To serve as a prelude or introduction.

(obsolete) Disclosure; discovery; revelation.

An introductory or preliminary performance or event.

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

(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.

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

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

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

(figurative) A forerunner to anything.

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

To introduce something, as a prelude.

An opening or aperture; a recess; a chamber.

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

Disclosure; discovery; revelation.

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

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

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

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

To serve as prelude to; to precede as introductory.

Orchestral music played at the beginning of an opera or oratorio

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

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

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

A tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of others;

Serve as a prelude or opening to

Play as a prelude