Folía

Folía 

an ancient Portuguese and Spanish dance in triple measure, similar to the chaconne and saraband. The dance first appeared in the 14th century. The earliest tune described as a folia appears in F. Salinas’ Seven Books on Music (1577). The melody of the folia served as a motif in many virtuoso pieces for harpsichord, guitar, violin, and other instruments. In A. Corelli’s works the folia reached its peak of development. Corelli’s theme was used by F. Liszt in his Spanish Rhapsody for piano and by S. V. Rachmaninoff in his Variations on a Theme by Corelli (pianoforte solo). L. Cherubini introduced a folia into his opera A Portuguese Inn, and A. A. Aliab’ev used one in his ballet The Magic Drum, or The Sequel to the Magic Flute.