Faure’s Sicilienne is one of the most beautiful melodies of the repertoire. A sicilienne is a slow tempo movement usually in a minor key with lilting rhythmic patterns and dotted notes enabling it to be described as a slow jig. This movement dates from 1893 and exists in several different arrangements. Fauré’s music possesses subtlety and he has a great awareness of instrument colour even though he preferred others and often his students to orchestrate his music. Careful attention needs to be paid to the reading of accidentals as frequently different voices are sounding in what seem to be conflicting versions of a note. This is attributable to the modal element that it is a strong component of Fauré’s music. Apart from this, attention needs to be made to the reading of the notes and the score detail particularly in respect to knowing which notes are tied. In preparing scores the most appropriate range of the solo instrument is explored and consequently different arrangements for different instruments explore different octave ranges. The sustaining pedal is required when playing the accompaniment and has been indicated generally only at the beginning of scores. The realisation plays at a tempo of 50 dotted quarter notes to the minute. A solo instrumental part is appended to the full score. The middle section in this ternary form movement is essentially a lullaby. Piano accompaniments are in place playing at 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56 and 58 dotted quarter note (crotchet) beats to the bar. Performance of this music needs to be controlled and secure. Careful reading of the notes and understanding of all the lines in the music need to be understood and in some cases unravelled! Music that has a modal element tends to be melancholy in character and something of a listening challenge because it sounds different. The plus side is that music with a modal element lends itself to contemporary interpretations and modern instrumentations. The textures are always so considered in Fauré’s music. As a composer he offers a different and unique listening and performing experience. Sadly like many he had the inventiveness to compose much more but responsibilities and the need to earn a living prevented him from doing this. Composing was often limited to the summer months with him often working in isolation. This score was reviewed and updated in November 2025
