Prélude

The Préludes (Preludes) are a 1928–1929 set of eight pieces by French composer Olivier Messiaen, which were written when the composer was 20 years old and studying at the Conservatoire de Paris. Messiaen considered it to be his first work of any value. The compositions are based on Messiaen's modes of limited transposition, and betrays an influence of Debussy's preludes. They were premiered by the composer in a private performance at the Concerts Durand in Paris on 28 January 1930. The first public performance was given by Henriette Puig-Roget on 1 March 1930, at the Salle Érard at the Société Nationale de Musique in Paris.