Among Martinů's solo piano pieces we find several works that bear the "prelude" in their title. The first stand-alone work so titled is the Prelude, H 85, on the theme of Marseillaise, sometimes referred to as Prelude No. 1, followed in close succession by Prelude No. 2 in F minor, H 86. Both works were written early in Martinů's career in 1913, before the First World War, in the midst of work on the first booklet of Loutky (Puppets III), H 92. The piece is dominated by a dotted rhythm, with the complete Marseillaise starting at bar 82 (Allegro).
Other preludes include the Prelude, H 86bis, dedicated to the Berger children, which is closely related to the aforementioned Loutky (Puppets). Then there is the Prélude, H 121bis, the Prelude from 1924, H 140, composed not long after Martinů arrived in Paris, the piano Prelude, H 178, dedicated to the Society of Amateur Theatre Players in Polička in commemoration of the opening of the Tyl House in 1929, and finally the Eight Preludes for Piano, H 181, from 1929.
A recording of the work was first released by Naxos in 2007 (Martinů: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 4 – Seven Czech Dances; Giorgio Koukl).
Jana Burdová, 2024.