The reputation of Francesco Geminiani (1687–1762) has always been overshadowed by those of Corelli (of whom he was a pupil), Vivaldi and Handel, but he was one of the finest violinists of his time and wrote much worthwhile and original music. He lived most of his life in London where he arrived in 1714 (though he ended his days, and is buried, in Dublin). In 1726/7 Geminiani published two sets of concerti grossi arranged from Corelli’s Opus 5, which of course included ‘La Folia’. In Geminiani’s setting Corelli’s virtuoso violin part is mostly unchanged, but a second solo violin part is ingeniously added and the whole work is shaped by the contrast between tutti and solo.
from notes by Tim Crawford © 1987
