Préludes pour piano (Preludes for piano) is an early work for piano by the French composer Olivier Messiaen composed in 1928–1929, when the composer was 20 years old.
[1] The composition is based on Messiaen's modes of limited transposition,[2] and betrays an influence of Debussy's preludes.
[3] The pieces were premiered by the composer in a private performance at the Concerts Durand which took place on January 28, 1930.
The first public performance was given by Henriette Puig-Roget on March 1, 1930, at the Salle Érard at the Société Nationale de Musique in Paris.
[4][5] The work is in eight movements, each accompanied by a description consisting mostly of the associated colors.