Translates to "madness," "folly," or "empty-headedness" in Italian/Spanish, referring to the frenzied, fast-paced nature of its original dance.

An improvisation on a 500 year old chord progression. La Folia!

Early Folia (faster, 15th-16th century) and Late Folia (slower, 17th-18th century, popular in the Baroque era). Musical Characteristics

The most iconic "Late Folia" structure is a 16-bar sequence typically in d-minor: Often follows a

Antonio Vivaldi, Marin Marais, Jean-Baptiste Lully, and Alessandro Scarlatti all wrote famous variations. Enduring Legacy

pattern, creating a feeling of constant movement between tonic (minor) and relative major.