Evolution Of Western Piano Prelude

This article gives an illustration of the origin and historic evolution of piano preludes based on the author's learning and teaching experience in the past years. It also illustrates the author's view points on musical performance through introduction and comparison of the composing characteristics and contributions of six renowned western composers. This article is expected to probe into and analyze piano preludes with emphasis on the historic evolution of piano preludes and give examples of compositions in order to come up with a more direct and clearer understanding of its composing techniques and theories as well as its evolution.In this article, efforts are made to go deep into the symbolic meanings of the formal beauty of piano preludes and thus analyze this literary type inside out in a systematic and meticulous manner in order to establish a historic and rational framework thereof based on personal feelings.