a popular, 17th-century instrumental or vocal piece similar to the pastorale, in 6/8 or 12/8 time, often with a dotted rhythm and usually in a minor key. Its Sicilian origins have not been substantiated.
Vocal sicilianos were frequently included in Italian operas and cantatas. Fast sicilianos were often dance-like songs similar to the gigue. Far more common were the slow sicilianos, both vocal (in Handel’s operas) and instrumental (Handel, J. S. Bach, and W. F. Bach). The siciliano was revived in the later works of Haydn and Mozart.