Ne irascaris Domine

William Byrd’s Ne irascaris Domine is a deeply expressive motet drawn from his Cantiones Sacrae, reflecting the anguish and longing of English Catholics during a time of religious persecution. Set to a Latin text pleading “Be not angry, O Lord,” the music unfolds with restrained intensity, suspensions, and carefully shaped polyphony that heighten the work’s sense of supplication. Its austere beauty and emotional clarity have made it one of Byrd’s most enduring sacred compositions.