Both Uses of
prelude
in
The Count of Monte Cristo
- The two ladies entered the drawing-room with that sort of official stiffness which preludes a formal communication.†
Chpt 93-94 *
- The audience felt that a startling revelation was to follow this ominous prelude.†
Chpt 109-110
Definition:
-
(prelude) something that prepares for or introduces what is to follow
or:
music #1: an introductory piece of music -- such as might introduce an act of an opera
or:
music #2: a short independent piece of music -- typically for piano