William Byrd
“How long shall mine enemies
triumph over me”

Based on an anonymous translation of verses from Psalm 13, this motet by William Byrd presents an intricate interweaving of the 4 lower parts (2 tenors, a baritone, and a bass) overlaid with a simple melody sung by the higher voices.

Here is the text:

How long shall mine enemies triumph over me?
Consider and hear me, O Lord my God;
Lighten mine eyes that I sleep not in death,
lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him,
for if I be cast down they that trouble me will be glad and and rejoice at it.
But my trust is in Thy mercy, and my heart is joyful in Thy Salvation.

In the performance below, the ensemble Alamire is conducted by David Skinner.