Da mihi auxilium is a six-voice imitative motet by the English renaissance composer William Byrd (1543-1623). In the duration of its four sections, in style, in clefs and range of the voices, it bears a marked resemblance to Byrd's motet Domine secundum actum meum, its neighboring work in the 1575 Cantiones. Da mihi auxilium also shares some features, particularly in section length, with Alfonso Ferrabosca's Domine non secundum peccata nostra, and this work may have served as a model.

Both motets are exercises in double imitation. Domine secundum is, possibly, the more eloquent of the two, but Da mihi auxilium is still most satisfying. Byrd used an evolving subject, as he does in numerous other motets. His treatment of dissonance, in particular, is impressive.



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