約翰·塞巴斯蒂安·巴哈（德語：Johann Sebastian Bach，1685年3月21日－1750年7月28日），巴洛克時期的德國作曲家，傑出的管風琴、小提琴、大鍵琴演奏家，同作曲家韓德爾和泰雷曼齊名。巴哈被普遍認為是音樂史上最重要的作曲家之一，所以被稱作音樂之父[來源請求]。在2005年德國電視二台票選最偉大的德國人活動中，他排名第六，次於第五偉大的西德總理維利·勃蘭特。
A prelude (German: Präludium or Vorspiel; Latin: praeludium; French: prélude; Italian: preludio) is a short piece of music, the form of which may vary from piece to piece.[1][2] The prelude may be thought of as a preface. While, during the Baroque era, for example, it may have served as an introduction to succeeding movements of a work that were usually longer and more complex, it may also have been a stand-alone piece of work during the Romantic era. It generally features a small number of rhythmic and melodic motifs that recur through the piece. Stylistically, the prelude is improvisatory in nature. The prelude also may refer to an overture, particularly to those seen in an opera or an oratorio.