Collocations for prelude - noun

instrumental, orchestral
the orchestral prelude to the cantata

organ, piano
brief
opening
the opening orchestral prelude

B major, D minor, etc.

open with
‘The Magnificat’ opens with a long organ prelude.

prelude for
seven preludes for piano

prelude to
The theme recalls the prelude to Wagner's ‘Lohengrin’.

essential, inevitable, necessary
a necessary prelude to privatization

serve as
This analysis will serve as a prelude to a more extended examination.

consider sth, see sth as

as a prelude
events held as a prelude to the Christmas festivities

prelude for
the prelude for the battles ahead

prelude to
He considered the strikes a prelude to the great socialist revolution.

a prelude to war
the fear that any peace was merely a prelude to war

be but a prelude to sth, be just a prelude to sth, be merely a prelude to sth, be only a prelude to sth
Every life is but a prelude to a death.
This is just a prelude to a larger attack.