Bach, (J.S.): Toccatas

A Toccata (from Italian Toccare, to touch) is a virtuoso piece of music typically for a keyboard instrument, featuring fast-moving, lightly fingered or otherwise virtuosic passages with or without imitative or fugal interludes, generally emphasizing the dexterity of the performer's fingers. Originating in Renaissance Italy (Frescobaldi and others) the Toccata travelled North and in Bach's (1685-1750) time it was an important form of keyboard writing. Bach's seven toccatas are highly intricate and elaborate works in free, quasi-improvisatory style, demanding a high level of virtuosity.

This new recording is part of the Bach Project by Pieter-Jan Belder, the recording of the complete keyboard works.

• Pieter-Jan Belder is one of the world's foremost keyboard players, with an astonishing number of CD's to his name: the complete Scarlatti Sonatas, Bach keyboard works, Rameau, Soler, Duphly, Marais, CPE Bach, Corelli, Purcell, Telemann, the complete Fitzwilliam Virginal Book..to be continued. Critics praise his versatility, his innate feeling for style, his impeccable technique: "Superb keyboard artistry and consummate technique"(Musicweb), "alive, fresh-sounding and thoroughly engaged.." (Fanfare), "The most vital Bach performances of the moment" (Volkskrant).