Toccata - by Robert Sirota (excerpt) by Robert Sirota

Robert Sirota describes Toccata (1979) as the most difficult organ piece he has written. During its seven-minute length, the organist is called upon to perform a variety of acrobatic feats involving quick registration changes as well as virtuosic finger and pedal technique. The piece employs the organizational device of incorporating several “musics” into a single movement — a fantasia, slow movement, scherzo and finale (complete with pedal cadenza) all based on the same melodic cell: a five-note motive derived from a Bach Arioso.