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

Johann Sebastian Bach's works were an ideal choice given the highly mathematical structure, plus the composer was so prolific, across so many very different kinds of musical compositions—preludes, fugues, chorales, toccatas, concertos, suites, and cantatas—as to allow for useful comparisons. —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

Harpsichordist Esfahani applies meticulous scholarship to this process yet has produced a vivid recording built on animated performances appropriate to the toccata form. —Howard Reich, chicagotribune.com, 27 Nov. 2019

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

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