(Ger. Choralvorspiel).
(1) A relatively short setting for organ of a single chorale strophe intended to introduce the hymn tune to be sung by the congregation. The chorale prelude as an autonomous genre was developed by the north German composers of the mid- and later 17th century, notably Buxtehude. The chorale melody, often decorated with expressive ornaments, is usually presented over a mildly polyphonic accompaniment without any interludes separating the individual chorale phrases. The form reached its culmination in the 45 chorale preludes in Bach’s Orgel-Büchlein but continued to be cultivated throughout the 19th century and especially the 20th by, among others, Brahms, Reger, Distler and Pepping.
(2) A generic term for any chorale setting for organ, i.e. a synonym for organ chorale.
See Chorale settings.
ROBERT L. MARSHALL