Five Fragments by Sappho

Song Cycle by Luigi Dallapiccola (1904 - 1975)

View original-language texts alone: Cinque Frammenti di Saffo

1. Vespro, tutto riporti
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Vespro, tutto riporti
Quanto disperse la lucente aurora;
Riporti la pecora, riporti la capra,
Riporti il figlio alla madre.

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by Salvatore Quasimodo (1901 - 1968)
1. Evening
Language: English 
Evening, you bring back all
those sent forth by glowing dawn;
you bring back the sheep,
you bring back the goat,
you bring back the child to its mother.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2007 by T. P. (Peter) Perrin, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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This text was added to the website: 2007-12-13
Line count: 5
Word count: 29

Translation © by T. P. (Peter) Perrin
2. O mia Gongila
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
O mia Gongila, ti prego:
Metti la tunica bianchissima
E vieni a me davanti: io sempre
Ti desidero bella nelle vesti.

Così adorna, fai tremare chi guarda;
E io ne godo, perché la tua belleza
Rimprovera Afrodite.

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by Salvatore Quasimodo (1901 - 1968)
2. O my Gongola
Language: English 
O my Gongola, I beg you:
put on your whitest garment
and come before me: I always
wish you to be beautiful in dress.
 
Adorned thus, you cause those who see you to tremble;
and I rejoice in it, for your loveliness
rebukes Aphrodite.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2007 by T. P. (Peter) Perrin, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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This text was added to the website: 2007-12-13
Line count: 7
Word count: 44

Translation © by T. P. (Peter) Perrin
3. Muore il tenero Adone
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
"Muore il tenero Adone, o Citerea;
E noi che faremo?"
"A lungo battetevi il petto, fanciulle,
E laceratevi le vesti".

Text Authorship:

Based on:

  • a text in Aeolic Greek by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE), "Κατθνάισκει, Κυθέρη᾽, ἄβρος"

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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

by Salvatore Quasimodo (1901 - 1968)
3. Tender Adonis is dying
Language: English 
"Tender Adonis is dying, O Cytherea;
and what shall we do?"
"Slowly beat your breasts, maidens,
and tear your garments."

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2007 by T. P. (Peter) Perrin, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
    Contact: 

Based on:

Based on:

  • a text in Aeolic Greek by Sappho (flourished c610-c580 BCE), "Κατθνάισκει, Κυθέρη᾽, ἄβρος"

Go to the general single-text view


This text was added to the website: 2007-12-13
Line count: 4
Word count: 20

Translation © by T. P. (Peter) Perrin

 (The following is a multi-text setting.)

4. Piena splendeva la luna 
Piena splendeva la luna
Quando presso l'altare si fermarono.

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Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
E le Cretesi con armonia sui piedi leggeri cominciarono,
Spensierate, a girare intorno all'ara
Sulla tenera erba appena nata.

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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
Author(s): Salvatore Quasimodo (1901 - 1968)
4. The moon shone at the full
The moon shone at the full
when next to the altar they halted.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2007 by T. P. (Peter) Perrin, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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And the Cretan girls began on light feet, harmoniously,
with elation to whirl around the altar
on the tender just-grown grass.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2007 by T. P. (Peter) Perrin, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
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Translation © by T. P. (Peter) Perrin
5. Io lungamente
 (Sung text)
Language: Italian (Italiano) 
Io lungamente ho parlato in sogno con Afrodite.

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Please note: this text, provided here for educational and research use, is in the public domain in Canada, but it may still be copyright in other legal jurisdictions. The LiederNet Archive makes no guarantee that the above text is public domain in your country. Please consult your country's copyright statutes or a qualified IP attorney to verify whether a certain text is in the public domain in your country or if downloading or distributing a copy constitutes fair use. The LiederNet Archive assumes no legal responsibility or liability for the copyright compliance of third parties.

by Salvatore Quasimodo (1901 - 1968)
5. For a long time
Language: English 
For a long time I have talked with Aphrodite in dreams.

Text Authorship:

  • Translation from Italian (Italiano) to English copyright © 2007 by T. P. (Peter) Perrin, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
    Contact: 

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This text was added to the website: 2007-12-13
Line count: 1
Word count: 11

Translation © by T. P. (Peter) Perrin