Siciliana
The siciliana, also called siciliano, is a movement in calm 6/8 or 12/8 time. A rocking rhythm is typical: the first eighth note of a group of three is lengthened, the second shortened. It is often in a minor key and has appeared in arias and instrumental movements since the Baroque.
- Time signature
- 6/8 or 12/8
- Tempo
- calm, slow
- Key
- often minor
- Where it occurs
- arias and instrumental movements, since the Baroque
Calm and rocking
The siciliana is a movement in slow 6/8 or 12/8 time. Its hallmark is the rhythm: the first eighth note of a group of three is lengthened and the second shortened, for instance as a dotted eighth note and a sixteenth note; an ordinary eighth note follows. Many sicilianas are in a minor key. Since the Baroque the form has appeared in arias and as a movement in instrumental works.
The rocking rhythm
Our own example in A minor: the first eighth note of most groups is dotted, the second shortened to a sixteenth note, and the third is an ordinary eighth note. Count calmly in two beats per bar.
The same notes without dotting
For comparison: with three equal eighth notes the bar is still in 6/8, but the rocking is gone.
Where the name comes from
The name points to Sicily. Whether the movement really comes from there is disputed: one line of research traces it back to folk songs of the island, others see its origin elsewhere, and a connection with Sicily is not considered proven. There is a close link to shepherds’ music, the pastorale: the siciliana often stands for rural calm, and in arias also for lament.
Three dances in six-eight time
The siciliana, the gigue and the tarantella are all in 6/8 time or a related time signature. What distinguishes them is tempo and rhythm:
| Dance or movement | Time signature | Tempo | Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siciliana | 6/8 or 12/8 | slow | first eighth note lengthened, second shortened; often minor |
| Gigue | 3/8, 6/8, 12/8, also 6/4 | lively | final movement of the Baroque suite, often imitative |
| Tarantella | 6/8, also 3/8 | fast | folk dance from southern Italy |
Common mistakes
- Smoothing out the dotted rhythm: If the dotted eighth and sixteenth turn into a triplet, the siciliana loses its rocking.
- Playing too fast: At a lively tempo the same bar sounds like a gigue or a tarantella.
- Taking the name as proof of origin: That the movement comes from Sicily is not documented.
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Related terms
Six-eight timeTwelve-eight timeDotted notePastoraleGigueTarantellaAriaSuiteBaroqueDance
Editor: Maik Krohm · reviewed on 4 October 2026
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