toccato

Toccato is an Italian musical term meaning “touched.” In music notation, it functions primarily as a performance direction rather than a formal musical form. When a passage is marked toccato, the performer is expected to play with a brisk, light, and agile touch, often with a sense of immediacy or improvisatory flair.

Historically, toccato appears most often in keyboard literature from the Baroque era and earlier. It is related to the better-known form toccata, but while toccata denotes a virtuosic piece or movement, toccato serves as a directive about touch and articulation within a piece. Consequently, a score might include passages described as “toccato” within a larger toccata, suite, or other work, signaling a stylistic contrast with more sustained or legato sections.

The term emphasizes touch quality rather than a fixed structure. It is not as common in modern repertoire as the general concept of playing in a bright, agile manner. When encountered today, toccato often appears in performance notes or editor markings to guide a pianist or organist toward a brisk, precise, and expressive execution, rather than to refer to a standalone piece.

In relation to related terms, toccato should not be confused with staccato, which specifies note length, whereas toccato concerns the character and efficiency of articulation. See also: toccata.