for piano (1916) and eight short Preludes on Gregorian themes for organ (1948), in addition to two sets of three Preludes and fugues for organ (1912 and 1938).
Louis Vierne wrote12 Préludes for piano, op. 36 (1914 - 1915)
 Olivier Messiaen's set of eight piano Preludes (1929) developed from the Impressionism of Debussy's piano music.
Bohuslav Martinu's set of eight piano Préludes (1929).
Paul Hindemith wrote Ludus Tonalis (1940), a Prelude, 11 interludes, and a postlude, all separated by 12 fugues.
Dmitri Kabalevsky wrote a large number of Préludes for piano, op. 1, op. 5, op. 20, op. 38, op. 61 (1943 - 1944)
 Alberto Ginastera wrote a cycle of 12 American Preludes (Doce Preludios Americanos) (1946).
 Dmitri Shostakovich wrote a cycle of 24 Preludes and Fugues, Op. 87 in 1951, asDavid Straithairn

David Strathairn will star in Syfy's new pilot Alphas, the network announced Tuesday.



Alphas focuses on a team of ordinary citizens with extraordinary mental abilities who tackle cases that the CIA, FBI and Pentagon have been unable to solve. Strathairn, 61, will play Dr. Leigh Rosen, the eccentric Alphas leader who is willing to bend the rules for his objectives and team.

Check out photos of David Strathairn

"We're honored to have an actor of David's versatility, caliber and renown join Alphas

," Mark Stern, Syfy's executive vice president of original programming, said in a statement. "With his incredible range of work in theater, feature films and television, he is the perfect choice to play the complex and nuanced Dr. Rosen."

Lost director Jack Bender to helm Syfy's Alphas

Strathairn earned a best-actor