Circumdederunt me

General information

Antiphon for the Office of the Dead.
Text based on Psalm 17:5-6 (Vulgate) or Psalm 114:3 (Vulgate).

Settings by composers

• William Byrd AATTB
• Sigismondo d'India SATB
• Juan Gutierrez de Padilla SSAATB
• Giovanni Girolamo Kapsperger S + continuo
• Cristóbal de Morales SATTB
• Josquin des Prez's Nimphes, nappés uses this text as a cantus firmus, as does his Sic Deus dilexit mundum
• Jean Richafort's Missa pro defunctis uses Josquin's cantus firmus as a recurring canon

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

• Hernando Franco — Circumdederunt me
• Jacob Regnart — Circumdederunt me dolores mortis

Text and translations

Latin text Byrd text 114:3  Circumdederunt me dolores mortis, et pericula inferni invenerunt me. Tribulationem et dolorem inveni, 114:4  Et nomen Domini invocavi. O Domine, libera animam meam. Gutierrez text 114:3  Circumdederunt me dolores mortis, et pericula inferni invenerunt me. In tribulatione mea invocavi Dominum et ad Deum meum clamavi. Josquin and Morales text Circumdederunt me gemitus mortis: dolores inferni circumdederunt me. Hungarian translation Morales text Körülvettek engem a halál gyötrelmei, és az alvilág kínjai körülvettek engem.

English translation Byrd text 116:3  The sorrows of death have compassed me: and the perils of hell have found me. I met with trouble and sorrow: 116:4  And I called upon the name of the Lord. O Lord, deliver my soul. Gutierrez text 116:3  The sorrows of death have compassed me: and the perils of hell have found me. In my trouble, I called upon the name of the Lord and cried out to my God. Morales text The groanings of death have encircled me: the sorrows of hell have enclosed me. Spanish translation Byrd text Me rodearon los dolores de la muerte y me hallaron los peligros del infierno. Encontré tribulación y dolor, e invoqué el nombre del Señor. ¡Oh, Señor, libra mi alma! Gutierrez text Me rodearon los dolores de la muerte y me hallaron los peligros del infierno. En mi tribulación invoqué al Señor y a mi Dios clamé. Morales text Me envolvieron los gemidos de la muerte. Los dolores del infierno me rodearon. Translation by Alejandro Borrego Pérez