Toccata
Renaissance works
Definition
A virtuosic, often rapid piece designed to display keyboard technique. Typically features running passages, scale figures, and arpeggios with a driving rhythmic momentum.
Historical Context
From the Italian toccare (to touch), the toccata emerged in the late Renaissance as a vehicle for displaying keyboard facility. Bach's toccatas push counterpoint and drama alongside virtuosity. Schumann, Prokofiev, and Khachaturian wrote celebrated Romantic and 20th-century examples.
Works (30)
- American Berserk
- Toccata in C minor, BWV 911 Key C minor
- Toccata in D major, BWV 912 Key D major
- Toccata in D minor, BWV 913 Key D minor
- Toccata in E minor, BWV 914 Key E minor
- Toccata in F♯ minor, BWV 910 Key F♯ minor
- Toccata in G major, BWV 916 Key G major
- Toccata in G minor, BWV 915 Key G minor
- Partita No. 6 in E minor, BWV 830: Toccata Key E minor
- Toccata in C♯ minor Key C♯ minor
- Toccata in C major, Op. 92 Key C major
- Pour le piano: No. 3 — Toccata Key C♯ minor
- Toccata
- Toccata in A major, FbWV 110 Key A major
- Toccata in A minor, FbWV 103 Key A minor
- Toccata in A minor, FbWV 105 Key A minor
- Toccata in A minor, FbWV 111 Key A minor
- Toccata in A minor, FbWV 112 Key A minor
- Toccata in C major, FbWV 104 Key C major
- Toccata in D minor, FbWV 101 Key D minor
- Toccata in D minor, FbWV 102 Key D minor
- Toccata in E minor, FbWV 108 Key E minor
- Toccata in F major, FbWV 109 Key F major
- Toccata in G minor, FbWV 106 Key G minor
- Toccata in G minor, FbWV 107 Key G minor
- Toccata in G♭ major, Op. 13 Key G♭ major
- Perpetuum mobile in G major Key G major
- Toccata in G minor, HWV 586 Key G minor
- Toccatina, Op. 27 No. 12 Key A minor
- Toccatina, Op. 36