farandole

Old French dance in 6/8 time, originating in Provence. The dancers join hands in a chain and follow the leader to the accompaniment of tambourine and pipe. There is a farandole in Act II of Tchaikovsky's ballet The Sleeping Beauty.

farandole

A dance of Provence, probably of Greek origin. It is danced by large groups of people in procession through the streets and accompanied by pipe and tabor. The music is in 6/8 time, so that the example in Bizet's Arlésienne music is not traditionally correct, though very evocative.