Toccata for Organ (c. 1790) by Félix Máximo López (1742–1821)

Toccata for Organ (c. 1790) by Félix Máximo López (1742–1821)

First Edition  – Piano Version Included
 
This edition brings to light the newly published Toccata for Organ by Spanish court organist Félix Máximo López, a significant discovery in the Iberian late-Baroque / early-Classical repertoire. Preserved in the Archivo Histórico Provincial de los Capuchinos de Pamplona, the work appears within the famous “Cartapacios de Urreta” (Vol. IV, 1818), an anthology compiled by José de Urreta, organist of Idiazabal. The piece was later annotated with bibliographic references to Baltasar Saldoni’s renowned 19th-century biographical dictionary of Spanish musicians, reflecting its early cataloging and scholarly interest.
Despite its presence in this well-documented source, evidence suggests that López’s Toccata remained unpublished until now. The paleographic challenges of the manuscript, combined with the lack of a modern edition, likely contributed to its long silence. 
 
Musically, the Toccata exemplifies López’s distinctive voice within the Spanish organ tradition:
Bold rhythmic gestures characteristic of Iberian keyboard writing
Energetic sequences with driving momentum
Indications for Lenguetería (reed stops) to achieve the dramatic and festive sonorities typical of Spanish Baroque organs
Contrapuntal passages blending stile antico expressivity with late-18th-century harmonic progressions
 
The edition includes a piano version for study and performance, enabling broader access to this rediscovered work beyond historic organists.
 
Edition Features:
World premiere edition 
Transcribed from the Urreta Cartapacios (1818), safeguarded in the Pamplona archives
Critical notes on source and attribution included
Suitable for both historic organ performance and modern study (with piano version)
 
This Toccata stands as a remarkable rediscovery within the Spanish organ repertoire, unveiling a vibrant and previously forgotten facet of Félix Máximo López’s output. Organists, scholars, and early music enthusiasts will find here an invaluable resource bridging archival research and living performance.