The Everlasting Folia: A Violinist's Guide to Folias through Context, Catalog, Analysis, and Practice

Abstract

Arcangelo Corelli’s Follia was the last of his 12 Violin Sonatas Op. 5, published in 1700. The work is a theme and variations based on the later folia, a musical form from the late 17th century. Corelli’s Follia was highly regarded in the violin repertoire and created a standard for those to follow. Many composers sought to compose their own folia, many in direct relation to Corelli’s masterwork. There are documents citing the array of folia-related works, but there is not a source specifically focusing on the “Violin Folia Family”. As the title suggests, this document is organized in four major sections: Contextualizing Relevant Performer-Composers, Violin-Centric Folia Catalog, Comparing the Folias, and Practice Guide. This multifaceted document serves as a resource for teachers, students and performers on their quest to learn about this everlasting, ever-changing body of work for the violin.