前奏曲|ぜんそうきょくzensoukyoku

1. noun, musicprelude; overture
   彼かれらは前奏曲ぜんそうきょくを聞き漏ききもらさないように早はやく来きた。↗

   They came early so they wouldn't miss the prelude.

• Synonym序曲じょきょくWrittenMostly the opening music played before an opera or play; 「前奏曲」 usually refers to a piece before a suite or a standalone instrumental work.
• Related導入部どうにゅうぶNeutralThe part of a piece or text that leads into the main subject; unlike 「前奏曲」, it is not the name of an independent work.
• RelatedオーバーチュアWrittenA loanword for an overture, but rarely used; 「序曲」 is the usual word.
• Related序奏じょそうWrittenThe introductory passage before the main body of a piece; 「前奏曲」 is a complete, independent work.
• Antonym後奏曲WrittenA closing piece played after the music, the opposite of 「前奏曲」; rarely used.

Use 「前奏曲」 for a short instrumental piece or the opening of a suite, e.g. Chopin's preludes; it can also figuratively mean a harbinger of events. For an opera's opening piece say 「序曲」, and for the lead-in passage of a piece say 「序奏」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 組曲くみきょくなどの前まえに演奏えんそうされる小曲しょうきょく。
2. 即興そっきょうの幻想曲げんそうきょく。
3. 物事ものごとの始はじまり。