This is the fifth of six toccatas in Froberger's Libro Secondo of 1649. This particular toccata is in the deeply meditative style of Frescobaldi's toccatas for the elevation. These toccatas were meant to be played at the moment when the host is elevated in the Catholic mass. Typically they were improvised; however, Froberger and his teacher Frescobaldi wrote a few down, perhaps to serve as models for others wanting to learn the improvisational style. This kind of toccata is probably played slower and more tenderly than the typical Froberger toccata. Also it does not include any imitative sections or time signature changes. Instead it wanders through striking harmonic changes. While most of Froberger's other toccatas work quite well on the harpsichord this toccata is best suited to the organ and is best played using the same type of registration which Frescobaldi describes for the elevation toccatas using a celeste, or a stop with some kind of tremolo.

© Andrus Madsen, All Music Guide