Absalon, fili mi

General Information

This is the complaint of King David when he receives the news of the death of his beloved son, Absalom. The story can be found in the second book of Samuel, chapter 18. The complaint itself is verse 33. From the 15th - 17th century this text was a quite popular text for composers to write a 'lamento'.

See When David heard for settings of the equivalent text in English.
See David's lamentation for an alternative English setting.

Notes on selected settings

• Josquin des Prez, but more plausibly attr. Pierre de la Rue ATTB version 1 of the text
• Heinrich Schütz, SWV 269 solo bass, 4 trombones & bc version 2
• Nicolas Gombert (2da pars: Porro rex) ATTB.ATTB (another questionable Josquin attr., and basis of 2 contrafacta, Je prens congie & Tulerunt Dominum meum)

Settings by composers (automatically updated)

• Anonymous — Absolon fili mi  Latin STTB
• Josquin des Prez — Absalon, fili mi  Latin SATB, ATTB, TBBB
• Heinrich Schütz — Fili mi, Absalon, SWV 269  Latin Solo Bass

Text and translations

version 1 Latin text (2 Sm 18, 33) Absalon fili mi, quis det ut moriar pro te, Absalon? Non vivam ultra, sed descendam in infernum plorans. English translation Absalon my son, if only I had died instead of you, Absalon! I shall live no more, but go down to hell, weeping. Translation by Mick Swithinbank Dutch translation Absalom mijn zoon, was ik maar in jouw plaats gestorven, Absalom! Ik zal niet meer leven, maar afdalen naar het dodenrijk, huilend. Spanish translation Absalón, hijo mío, ¿quién me concederá morir por ti, Absalón? No viviré más, sino que voy a descender al infierno llorando. Translation by Alejandro Borrego Pérez

version 2 Latin text (2 Sm 18, 33) Fili mi Absalom, Absalom fili mi: quis mihi tribuat ut ego moriar pro te, Absalom fili mi, fili mi Absalom? (Vulgate) English translation O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son! Dutch translation Mijn zoon Absalom, mijn zoon, mijn zoon Absalom! Och, dat ik in uw plaats gestorven ware, Absalom, mijn zoon, mijn zoon! German translation Mein Sohn Absalom! Mein Sohn, mein Sohn Absalom! Wollte Gott, ich wäre für dich gestorben! O Absalom, mein Sohn, mein Sohn! Spanish translation ¡Hijo mío, Absalón; Absalón, hijo mío! ¿Quién me haría merced de morir por ti? ¡Absalón, hijo mío; hijo mío, Absalón! Translation by Alejandro Borrego Pérez

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