prelude

nouns

something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows
"training is a necessary preliminary to employment"; "drinks were the overture to dinner"
overture, preliminary, prelude
music that precedes a fugue or introduces an act in an opera
prelude
is a type of (narrower)
an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
music

verbs

serve as a prelude or opening to
prelude
is a type of (narrower)
serve a purpose, role, or function
"The tree stump serves as a table"; "The female students served as a control group"; "This table would serve very well"; "His freedom served him well"; "The table functions as a desk"
function, serve
play as a prelude
prelude
domain category
musical activity (singing or whistling etc.)
"his music was his central interest"
music
is a type of (narrower)
replay (as a melody)
"Play it again, Sam"; "She played the third movement very beautifully"
play, spiel