Sixteenth century Spanish composer and vihuelist Alonso De Mudarra (also Alonso Mudarra) was born in Guadalajara raised in aristocratic households became a priest and later canon at Seville Cathedral in 1546 just before he published his vihuela book. The vihuela was a gut-Stringed instrument that has elements in common with the lute and Guitar. Mudarra published three volumes of music for the vihuela that comprised seventy-seven works and many innovations including in this piece the first recorded use of folia a musical framework. This Fantasia seeks to imitate the legendary harpist Ludovico of the court of Ferdinand III of Aragon using cross rhythms andchormaticism to recall the harp. Some performers choose to play this work at speed recalling perhaps the 17th century definition of ‘folia’ as ‘mad’ and referring to a fast noisy dance.
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