toccata

[tuh-kah-tuh; Italian tawk-kah-tah]

noun, plural toc·ca·tas, toc·ca·te [tuh-kah-tee; Italian tawk-kah-te] /təˈkɑ ti; Italian tɔkˈkɑ tɛ/. Music.

a composition in the style of an improvisation, for the piano, organ, or other keyboard instrument, intended to exhibit the player's technique.

Origin of toccata

1715–25; < Italian: “touched,” feminine past participle of toccare touch

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for toccata

Historical Examples of toccata

But the music was not all to the tune of “A Toccata of Galuppi's.”
The Life of Florence Nightingale vol. 1 of 2
Edward Tyas Cook
I wish you would send me Handel's six fugues and the toccata and fugues by Eberlin.
Life Of Mozart, Vol. 2 (of 3)
Otto Jahn
In the Bachgesellschaft edition the toccata is called fantasia.
Bach
Charles Francis Abdy Williams
The toccata is in two movements—allegro moderato and adagio.
Bach
Charles Francis Abdy Williams
None of their definitions seems to apply to the Toccata by Chaminade.
Piano Playing
Josef Hofmann

British Dictionary definitions for toccata

toccata

noun

a rapid keyboard composition for organ, harpsichord, etc, dating from the baroque period, usually in a rhythmically free style

Word Origin for toccata

C18: from Italian, literally: touched, from toccare to play (an instrument), touch

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for toccata

1724, from Italian toccata, from toccare "to touch." A composition for keyboard instrument, intended to exhibit the touch and technique of the performer, and having the air of an improvisation.