Luigi Dallapiccola’s Cinque Frammenti di Saffo (1942) is a song cycle for soprano and chamber orchestra setting Italian texts by Salvatore Quasimodo after five poems of Sappho. Though built on a twelve-tone row—his first work to foreground dodecaphonic technique—Dallapiccola blends serial procedures with modal and diatonic elements, allowing lyrical expression within a rigorously structured framework. The result is an austere yet deeply expressive miniature cycle that balances contrapuntal clarity with vocal lyricism.

The work unfolds in five connected movements—

1. Vespro, tutto riporti (Largo)

2. Mia Gongila, ti prego (Mosso, scorrevole)

3. Muore il tenero Adone, o Citerea (Lento, vagamente)

4. Piena splendeva la luna (Allegretto molto comodo)

5. Io lungamente ho parlato (Molto lento)