Favorite (and hardest) Toccata?

[liszt-and-the-galops]

What is your favorite piano toccata?

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

[lelle]

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

[ahinton]

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.

[liszt-and-the-galops]

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.

[gasplamey]

Debussy's is my personal favorite.

[pianistavt]

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)

[thorn]

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.

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[kenbakermn]

Alexander Vladigerov

[jaquet]

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/

[alcyone]

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?

[thorn]

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. 

[fignewton]

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.

[alcyone]

 Thanks Thorn
Definitely love to give it a go☝

[liszt-and-the-galops]

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.