Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

by William Ernest Henley (1849-1903) , "Invictus", from A Book of Verses, published 1888

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

by Amy Marcy Cheney Beach (1867-1944) , "Dark is the night", op. 11 (Three Songs) no. 1 (<<1914).
by Bruno Siegfried Huhn (1871-1950) , "Invictus", published 1910. [voice and piano]
by Marshall Rutgers Kernochan (1880-1955) , "Unconquered", published 1911. [voice and piano]
by Francis Alexander Korbay (1846-1913) , "Out of the night", <<1913, from Album of Five Songs
by Charles Albert Lidgey (-1924) , "Out of the night", published 1909, from A Song of Life
by Carl F. Mueller (1892-1982) , "Invictus", published 1950. [satb a cappella]
by Martin Edward Fallas Shaw (1875-1958) , "Invictus", published 1920. [voice and piano]

GER German (Walter A. Aue)

Date added to the website: 2005-07-25.

Gentle Reminder

This project is not funded. If you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your gift is greatly appreciated!      - Emily I also have a wishlist at Amazon.ca.

Search/Shop for

Sheet music:

  Search sheetmusicplus.com for Unconquered, Invictus, Dark is the night, Out of the night, Art song , Lieder, chansons, or works for solo voice
  Search musicroom.com for Unconquered, Invictus, Dark is the night, Out of the night, vocal/choral music

CDs:

  Search amazon.com for Unconquered, Invictus, Dark is the night, Out of the night, art song, Lieder, or chansons
  Search amazon.ca for Unconquered, Invictus, Dark is the night, Out of the night, art song, Lieder, or chansons

Books:

  The Art of the Song Recital [amazon.com]
  The Book of Lieder: The Original Texts of Over 1000 Songs [amazon.com]
  Search amazon.com for art song, Lieder, or chansons
  Search amazon.ca for art song, lieder, or chansons

Classical Vocal Repertoire