touch

Sensation produced by specialized nerve endings in the skin. Some respond to light pressure, others to heavy pressure. Temperature detection may also contribute to the overall sensation of touch. Many animals, such as nocturnal ones, rely on touch more than humans do. Some have specialized organs of touch that project from the body, such as whiskers or antennae.

touch

In piano playing, the way of approaching the keys to produce the tone required. The main factor in the player's touch that affects the quality of tone is weight, because of the mechanical action which mediates between the player's hand and the hammers and strings. However, different ‘touches’ can subtly but directly influence the player's attack and release of each key, thereby causing minute variations of articulation and dynamics which the conscious mind alone would be challenged to achieve. It is these infinitesimal inequalities and inaccuracies that account for subtleties of touch, especially noticeable in passages whose texture invites contrast between several notes played together.

As a verb, up until the early 17th century, touch meant simply to ‘sound’ an instrument, exactly as toccare does in Italian; as a noun (‘touch’ or ‘touche’) it was equivalent to toccata.