Il secondo libro di toccate

Frescobaldi's second and more ambitious book of toccatas, published in Rome in 1627 and revised in 1637 (F 3.01–3.40). It contains eleven toccatas, six canzonas, four verses on hymns, three Magnificat settings, five galliards, six correntes, and four partitas. The collection expands beyond pure harpsichord writing to include four explicitly designated organ pieces: the famous Toccata quarta per l'organo da sonarsi alla levatione (for the Elevation of the Host), a pedal toccata, and two Elevation toccatas using pedals. The inscription above Toccata nona — \"Non senza fatiga si giunge al fine\" (Not without toil will you reach the end) — is among the most celebrated remarks in keyboard music. Freely available on IMSLP.