Definition of toccata
: a musical composition usually for organ or harpsichord in a free style and characterized by full chords, rapid runs, and high harmonies
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Recent Examples of toccata from the Web
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The sun in my eyes and the beauty of the toccata threw me back to a time when there was no light in my life, despite the brightest sun shining in Tehran’s sky.
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In short, in Carroccia’s hands Hamelin’s toccata seemed a work of art, not an exercise.
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Then came a virtuosic performance of Hamelin’s toccata that seemed somehow kind of menacing.
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On Easter Sunday last month, a nut fell off one of the rods leading to a pipe for a low F, a crucial note for a coming toccata.
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The finale starts with a motoric toccata that could have come from Bartók, then moves on to imitate an Irish jig, before adding a bit of boogie-woogie; the suave opening of the work draws from the luxe urbanity of Poulenc.
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During an early scene in the film, Blanca entertains the guests with a performance of a sprightly toccata by the 18th-century composer Paradisi.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'toccata.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of toccata
Italian, from toccare to touch, from Vulgar Latin — more at 1touch
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First Known Use: circa 1724
in the meaning defined above
See Words from the same yearTOCCATA Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of toccata for English Language Learners
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music : a piece of music for the piano or a similar instrument that is played very quickly
Learn More about toccata
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See words that rhyme with toccata Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about toccata
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