Commissioned for Eric Costantino and performed by Eric Costantino, viola, and Marina Chamasyan, piano. Sicilienne is dedicated to Eric's teachers, National Symphony Orchestra musicians Zino Bogachek, violinist, and Daniel Foster, violist, with appreciation for the NSO Youth Fellowship and to supporter Mr. Georges Markow-Totevy, mentor and friend. The piece is lyrical in nature, with long, flowing lines for the solo instrument. It was originally conceived as a barcarolle, or Venitian boat song, but the dotted rhythms and minor tonality are more in keeping with the quality of a sicilienne, a dance that long ago is thought to have originated in Sicily