Piano Forum

Poll

Favorite toccata(s)?

Schumann's: 3 (13.6%)
Debussy's: 1 (4.5%)
Prokofiev's: 6 (27.3%)
Chopin's (Etude op. 10 no. 7): 1 (4.5%)
Bach's (excluding the fugues): 3 (13.6%)
Scarlatti's (K. 141): 2 (9.1%)
Liszt's: 0 (0%)
Ravel's: 4 (18.2%)
Satie's: 0 (0%)
Kissin's: 0 (0%)
Godowsky's: 1 (4.5%)
Busoni's: 1 (4.5%)
Czerny's: 0 (0%)
Someone else's (reply below): 0 (0%)

Total Members Voted: 11

The ABRSM 2025 & 2026 – Expanding the Musical Horizon
The highly anticipated biennial releases of the ABRSM’s new syllabus publications are a significant event in the world of piano education, regardless of whether one chooses to participate in or teach the graded exams. Read more >>

Pages: [1] Go Down

Topic: Favorite (and hardest) Toccata? (Read 498 times)

liszt-and-the-galops

PS Silver Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 1314

Favorite (and hardest) Toccata?

on: June 25, 2024, 10:52:43 PM

What is your favorite piano toccata?

Obviously Sorabji's are probably the most difficult, but aside from that, which ones are hardest?

Logged

Amateur pianist, beginning composer, creator of the Musical Madness tournament (2024).
https://www.youtube.com/@Liszt-and-the-Galops

lelle

PS Gold Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 2348

Re: Favorite (and hardest) Toccata?

Reply #1 on: June 26, 2024, 09:18:27 AM

A few of these I'm not familiar with, but I picked Schumann's since it's pretty damn unpianistic.

Logged

ahinton

PS Silver Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 12147

Re: Favorite (and hardest) Toccata?

Reply #2 on: June 26, 2024, 09:36:43 AM

Quote from: liszt-and-the-galops on June 25, 2024, 10:52:43 PM

What is your favorite piano toccata?

Obviously Sorabji's are probably the most difficult, but aside from that, which ones are hardest?

Sorabji's are something of a rarity in that all four of them are multi-movement works like many of his other large scale pieces; Busoni's one Toccata is likewise but on a far smaller scale.

If we're talking standard (or standard-ish) repertoire, I'd say that the Schumann is as appropriate a choice as any.

Logged

Alistair Hinton
Curator / Director
The Sorabji Archive

liszt-and-the-galops

PS Silver Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 1314

Re: Favorite (and hardest) Toccata?

Reply #3 on: June 26, 2024, 08:13:04 PM

I chose Scarlatti's, Godowsky's, and Ravel's toccatas as my favorites.
For hardest (other than Sorabji), I haven't listened to all of them, but I'd say it's either Schumann's or Prokofiev's for the hardest.

Logged

Amateur pianist, beginning composer, creator of the Musical Madness tournament (2024).
https://www.youtube.com/@Liszt-and-the-Galops

gasplamey

PS Silver Member
Full Member
Posts: 142

Re: Favorite (and hardest) Toccata?

Reply #4 on: June 27, 2024, 05:12:10 PM

Debussy's is my personal favorite.

Logged

pianistavt

PS Silver Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 336

Re: Favorite (and hardest) Toccata?

Reply #5 on: June 27, 2024, 11:50:11 PM

I've heard Bach's c minor and e minor toccata's played on piano - both great pieces, I'm sure there are quite a few others?
Schumann's, Ravel's and Prokofiev's hold a special place on programs, as they are top-notch difficulty and are astounding pianistic creations.
Debussy is not on the virtuosic level of the above three, but an original and beautiful piece.
I've never heard of Liszt's - sounds like a toccata impromptu, a whim - - rarely played, understandably.
I didn't find a toccata by Satie, unless you mean Le Tango prepétual.
Also looked up Godowsky's - interesting work, a bit too reflective of Chopin perhaps to deserve a place next to Prokofiev and Ravel, clearly a very challenging work though. His Java Suite sounds like a toccata, which makes sense since it is modeled on the gamelan, and instrument played with mallets.
Kachaturian's Toccata could be listed - often appears on student programs, a fun work to hear and play.
Pierre Sancan's Toccata could also be listed - a more recent work (1943) - in the same category as Ravel and Prokofiev's.
Busoni's doesn't appeal to me

A few more not listed:
Emma Lou Diemer - Toccata for Piano ()
Stephen Hough - Fanfare Toccata ()
Dimitar Nenov - Toccata for Piano (1939)
Kapustin - Toccata Op.8 ()
Lucas Debargue - Toccata pour piano B Minor (2019)

Logged

thorn

PS Silver Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 750

Re: Favorite (and hardest) Toccata?

Reply #6 on: June 28, 2024, 09:28:37 AM

Quote from: pianistavt on June 27, 2024, 11:50:11 PM

Schumann's, Ravel's and Prokofiev's hold a special place on programs, as they are top-notch difficulty and are astounding pianistic creations.
...
Also looked up Godowsky's - interesting work, a bit too reflective off Chopin perhaps to deserve a place next to Prokofiev and Ravel, clearly a very challenging work though. His Java Suite sounds like a toccata, which makes sense since it is modeled on the gamelan, and instrument played with mallets.

I second those as the top 3, although I must admit I don't like the Schumann personally. Ravel is my favourite because it was one of my undergrad audition pieces so I spent a very long time with it.

Regarding Godowsky, I find all of his stuff derivative to be honest. I loved the Java Suite when I first heard it but as time goes on I find it less and less original.

Back to Toccatas, Poulenc's is good fun and sounds a lot more difficult than it is. Great as an encore piece.

i=wjlh0EpzUD3S_5QN

Logged

kenbakermn

PS Silver Member
Newbie
Posts: 17

Re: Favorite (and hardest) Toccata?

Reply #7 on: July 25, 2024, 06:18:48 PM

Alexander Vladigerov

Logged

jaquet

PS Silver Member
Jr. Member
Posts: 94

Re: Favorite (and hardest) Toccata?

Reply #8 on: August 03, 2024, 12:03:13 AM

some of the most beautiful pieces of music ive heard and played is from bach tocattas, there is just a lack of good intpreters, please i urge you to have a look when you have time, those pieces are lovely/

Logged

alcyone

PS Silver Member
Newbie
Posts: 8

Re: Favorite (and hardest) Toccata?

Reply #9 on: August 06, 2024, 03:26:29 PM

Hi jaquet,

I totally agree.
My favourite ones are:
D major
c minor
G major and
f# minor
I love Prokofiev one too. Is it harder to play than his sonatas?

Logged

thorn

PS Silver Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 750

Re: Favorite (and hardest) Toccata?

Reply #10 on: August 06, 2024, 04:51:26 PM

Quote from: alcyone on August 06, 2024, 03:26:29 PM

I love Prokofiev one too. Is it harder to play than his sonatas?

It's definitely easier than the war sonatas. I'd say if you can play one of the earlier sonatas (1-5) then you'd be alright to have a go at the toccata. It's a difficult comparison though since it's a short but intense piece vs. a larger structure with more to hold together.

Logged

fignewton

PS Silver Member
Jr. Member
Posts: 35

Re: Favorite (and hardest) Toccata?

Reply #11 on: August 08, 2024, 01:16:42 PM

I can't pass on an opportunity to sing the praises of the Schumann Toccata. I also love the Bach Toccatas, the Widor Toccata for organ, and the Chopin 10/7 which I believe I read Liszt used frequently as a warm-up piece.

Logged

alcyone

PS Silver Member
Newbie
Posts: 8

Re: Favorite (and hardest) Toccata?

Reply #12 on: August 08, 2024, 04:25:09 PM

Thanks Thorn
Definitely love to give it a go☝

Logged

liszt-and-the-galops

PS Silver Member
Sr. Member
Posts: 1314

Re: Favorite (and hardest) Toccata?

Reply #13 on: August 08, 2024, 07:48:32 PM

Forgot to post this until now, but pianistavt mentioned the Czerny Toccata on the "hardest pieces by every composer" thread, which had a clear influence on Schumann's Toccata.

Logged

Amateur pianist, beginning composer, creator of the Musical Madness tournament (2024).
https://www.youtube.com/@Liszt-and-the-Galops

Sign-up to post reply

Pages: [1] Go Up

For more information about this topic, click search below!