La Follia (also spelled Folia, Folies d'Espagne, or La Folia) is one of the most enduring and recognizable musical themes in Western history, spanning over 500 years of development from a 15th-century dance to a popular theme for baroque variations. What is La Follia?
An improvisation on a 500 year old chord progression. La Folia! Follia
Originated as a Portuguese folk dance/tune in the late 15th century, described as a "noisy dance" performed by peasants. La Follia (also spelled Folia, Folies d'Espagne, or
Antonio Vivaldi, Marin Marais, Jean-Baptiste Lully, and Alessandro Scarlatti all wrote famous variations. Enduring Legacy La Follia (also spelled Folia
Translates to "madness," "folly," or "empty-headedness" in Italian/Spanish, referring to the frenzied, fast-paced nature of its original dance.