The prelude has a long history. Originating in the 16th century from the improvisatory use of an instrument and the introduction of a key, it reached its apogee in the Baroque period with Bach, Handel or Couperin as a playful form with triads and rapid passages. In the 19th century, the prelude broke new ground as an imaginative instrumental piece. Chopin and Debussy created a variety of forms and character pieces in their preludes, some with programmatic titles or as descriptions of images of nature or figurations. In the 20th century, composers such as Eduard Putz and Nikolai Kapustin also opened up the prelude to stylistic features of jazz. This volume is a 'melodious history' of the prelude and a treasure trove for lessons and for piano lovers who wish to discover something new. Works by Bach, Handel, Couperin, Bertini, Chopin, Heller, Kirchner, Debussy, Satie, Scriabin, Rachmaninoff, Gershwin, Kapustin, and many more.