Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Work Overview

Toccata literally means 'touched' and is usually a work for keyboard with rapid passages showing a certain dexterity on the part of the performer. Organ toccatas are a long tradition stretching back as far as Buxtehude and J.S. Bach and continuing with the French symphonic tradition, as exemplified by the famous toccata from Symphony V by C.-M. Widor. Another long-standing organ composition tradition is the chorale prelude; again exemplified in J.S. Bach. Organists often improvise on the final hymn of the service as a postlude. This present work is both and while it would work as a concert work, was requested by the professional church musician and organist David Molloy, as a postlude based on the Christmas tune 'Adeste fideles', 'O come, all ye faithful', especially for Christmas Eve Midnight Mass, and for the Christmas season in general. The tune is presented almost unadulterated and in its entirety at the beginning and end, and is used motivically and canonically in the middle section where it is also used as a theme in the right foot, requiring the organist to 'double pedal'. This festive and jolly work requires a modest instrument to play. Registration markings are given as a guide only.

Work Details

Year: 2003

Instrumentation: Organ.

Duration: 4 min.

Difficulty: Advanced