toccata

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

/ təˈkɑ tə; Italian tɔkˈkɑ tɑ /

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.

Nearby words

toby, toby jug, toc, toc h, tocantins, toccata, toch, tocharian, tocher, tochis, tockley

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

Toccata—a brilliant composition for piano or organ, usually characterized by much rapid staccato playing.
Music Notation and Terminology|Karl W. Gehrkens
The toccata contains three movements—allegro moderato, allegro, adagio.
Bach|Charles Francis Abdy Williams
But in Bach's hands the toccata becomes one of the noblest and most plastic of forms.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 1|Various
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

I have no doubt that the Toccata by Chaminade, which I do not know, is written on similar lines.
Piano Playing|Josef Hofmann

British Dictionary definitions for toccata

toccata

/ (təˈkɑːtə) /

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

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.