Infelix ego is a six-part Latin motet by the renaissance English composer William Byrd (1543-1623). It was published as No. 24-6 in his 1591 Cantiones sacrae and is one of two works in this collection based on the earlier Votive Antiphon form (the other is Cunctis diebus).

This work bears several links with Byrd's earlier motet Tribulationes civitatum. It uses the same clefs, this same structure, similar length and the same modes. In many ways, it can be seen as a reworking of this earlier work.

The penitential text for this work is remarkably, almost recklessly long for a motet. Byrd is almost obliged to set it with a mixture of polyphony (his usual technique) and homophony (in order to get through the words). Without doubt, the writing is patchy and several sections involve extreme writing to emerge from technical difficulties. Other sections work extremely well.

Despite the roughness of some the writing in some sections, the overall effect is, oddly, successful. Infelix ego is a demanding but rewarding work that is too-rarely performed. In some ways, it would not be entirely out of place in a concert of contemporary music. Some of the latter sections sound particularly modern.



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