toccata

[ tuh-kah-tuh; Italian tawk-kah-tah ]

noun

, Music.

, plural toc·ca·tas, toc·ca·te [t, uh, -, kah, -tee, tawk-, kah, -te].

1. a composition in the style of an improvisation, for the piano, organ, or other keyboard instrument, intended to exhibit the player's technique.

toccata

/ təˈkɑːtə /

noun

1. a rapid keyboard composition for organ, harpsichord, etc, dating from the baroque period, usually in a rhythmically free style

Word History and Origins

Origin of toccata¹

1715–25; < Italian: “touched,” feminine past participle of toccare touch

Word History and Origins

Origin of toccata¹

C18: from Italian, literally: touched, from toccare to play (an instrument), touch

Example Sentences

It’s one of those classical pieces, like Beethoven’s Fifth and Ninth symphonies and Bach’s spooky Toccata and Fugue in D minor, that long ago left orchestra halls to entrench themselves in the American psyche.

From Los Angeles Times

It is 02:00 BST and Bach's Toccata and Fuge in D Minor is echoing around the circular walls of the world famous venue.

From BBC

In the middle of one conversation, the architect suddenly popped out of his chair, walked over to a Steinway and started to play a Bach toccata.

From New York Times

On TikTok, Lapwood does get the occasional negative comment — such as a poster complaining about the expressively fluctuating tempo in her performance of a Bach toccata.

From New York Times

They were so impressed with her rendition of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor that they asked her to appear with them at a sold-out show in the same venue the next evening.

From New York Times