Dallapiccola, Luigi, << `dah` lah PEE koh luh, loo EE jee, >> (1904-1975), was an Italian composer. He became best known as a pioneer of dodecaphony in Italy. Dodecaphonic music is a 12-tone technique. Dallapiccola’s musical style is characterized by delicate counterpoint (multiple melodies), lyrical lines and textures, and subtle tone colors. His work was influenced by the modern Austrian composers Alban Berg and Anton Webern as well as by Italian Renaissance vocal music.
Dallapiccola’s two-act opera Ulisse (1968) first brought the composer international fame. His compositions for solo voice and instrumental ensemble of the 1950’s and 1960’s rank among his finest works. Dallapiccola also composed two one-act operas, a ballet, the oratorio Job, many choral and solo vocal works, and a few works for piano and for chamber ensemble. He was born on Feb. 3, 1904, in Pazin (now in Slovenia), near Trieste. He died on Feb. 19, 1975.
