Composer

:

Johann Kaspar Kerll

Genre

:

Keyboard

Average_duration

:

3:41

Johann Kaspar Kerll's 'Toccata sive ricercata in Cylindrum phonotacticum transferenda' is a keyboard work that was composed in the mid-17th century. The piece was first published in Kirchner's Musurgia universalis in Rome in 1650. The work is divided into two movements, with the first being a toccata and the second being a ricercata. The toccata is a virtuosic piece that showcases the performer's technical abilities. It is characterized by its fast and lively tempo, with rapid runs and arpeggios that require a high level of dexterity. The toccata also features frequent changes in dynamics, with sudden shifts from loud to soft and vice versa. The piece is written in a free form, with no strict adherence to a particular structure. The second movement, the ricercata, is a more structured piece that is based on a single theme. The theme is introduced at the beginning of the movement and is then developed throughout the piece. The ricercata is characterized by its contrapuntal texture, with multiple voices weaving in and out of each other. The piece also features frequent use of imitation, where one voice will repeat a melody that has just been played by another voice. One of the unique characteristics of 'Toccata sive ricercata in Cylindrum phonotacticum transferenda' is its use of the cylindrum phonotacticum. This was a mechanical device that was used to create a continuous sound by rotating a cylinder with pins that would pluck the strings of a keyboard instrument. Kerll's piece was specifically composed to be played on this device, which was popular in the 17th century. Overall, 'Toccata sive ricercata in Cylindrum phonotacticum transferenda' is a challenging and complex keyboard work that showcases Kerll's skill as a composer. Its use of the cylindrum phonotacticum adds an interesting and unique element to the piece, making it a fascinating example of 17th-century keyboard music.

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