toccata

noun

toc·​ca·​ta tə-ˈkä-tə 

: a musical composition usually for organ or harpsichord in a free style and characterized by full chords, rapid runs, and high harmonies

Examples of toccata in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The more complex toccatas and fugues had the highest entropy, while simpler chorales had the lowest. — Ars Technica, 30 Dec. 2024

Some listened stoically, others bobbed their heads to toccatas by Dmitry Kabalevsky, Unsuk Chin, Sergei Prokofiev and Johann Sebastian Bach. — Monica Hooper, arkansasonline.com, 19 Sep. 2024

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. — David Rockwell, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2023

The knock-’em-dead toccata that ends the concerto represents a festive winter solstice gathering of Guarani ethnic groups who cover vast swaths of South America. — Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2019

The grandeur of the passacaglia, the urgency of the toccata and the majesty of the chorale reminded listeners of this work’s value. — Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, 10 Oct. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from toccare to touch, from Vulgar Latin — more at touch entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1724, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for toccata

• agata
• bharata
• cantata
• costata
• ephrata
• errata
• falcata
• mahratta
• regatta
• serrata
• sonata
• stigmata