Folias

Folias, also known as La Folia, refers to a traditional European musical theme and its extensive family of variations. The term describes a bass-line-based melodic idea that has circulated widely since the Renaissance, originating in the Iberian Peninsula and spreading to France, Italy, and beyond. It began as a simple dance tune or song—often described as folia or folie in early printings—and was quickly adapted as a ground bass (ostinato) over which composers wrote increasingly elaborate variations.

Musically, La Folia is typically built on a repeated bass pattern and a minor-mode mood, though the exact chord sequence varies by source. The long-standing practice is to present a set of variations on the fixed bass while the upper voices elaborate melodies, counterpoint, and rhythm. The form became a standard vehicle for variation during the Baroque era, and many composers wrote numerous folia variants.

In its heyday, La Folia enjoyed international popularity. It was transmitted through printed editions and manuscript copies, with notable contributions from Italian, French, and Iberian composers. Arcangelo Corelli’s widely performed La Folia variations are among the best-known Baroque examples; the theme was also taken up by later musicians and reformulated in different keys and styles.

Today, folias remain a reference point in studies of variation form and ground bass technique. They appear in academic discussions of European music history and are performed by early-music ensembles, as well as in contemporary compositions that echo the lineage of the Folia.