What is a toccata?

Learning objectives:

• Learn about Baroque organ toccatas and how they sound improvised
• Explore how Baroque composers decorated their melodies

What is a toccata?

The word toccata comes from the Italian word 'toccare' meaning 'to touch'. It describes a piece of music, normally for a keyboard instrument, usually composed in a free style. Early toccatas used full chords and scales passages and were often played in a free tempo. Later, the toccata developed into a piece that was designed to show off the technical skills of the performer.

The features of a toccata

Toccatas have several different sections.

• Some sections sound organized and have a strict pulse/meter.
• Some sections sound improvised and have lots of fast running scale-like passages giving the performer a chance to display their keyboard talent.
• Some sections are played slowly with a rubato feel giving the performer freedom to play at their own speed.
• Composers such as Bach also used pauses in toccatas to create a feeling of tension and expectation, and melodies were decorated with extra notes (mordents).

Johann Sebastian Bach

(1685-1750) was a German composer and organist from a well-established musical family. For much of his life, he held the position of organist in churches around Germany, and composed many works for the organ in addition to vocal and instrumental music.

Improvised or composed?

Although some sections of 'Toccata in D minor' sound improvised they are in fact all organized and even written down.

Modern decoration

Famous contemporary singers like Mariah Carey and Celine Dion decorate vocal lines by adding improvisation sections, extra notes, singing very high pitched notes or singing notes of long duration to show off their vocal skills. Some guitarists also perform complicated solo passages in rock stages to show off their skills.