This edition was prepared by Mark Chapman — free to download, print, rehearse and perform.
Bloody, but unbowed
Staff Notation • Secular, Art songs
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Bloody, but unbowed by Mark Chapman — Lyrics
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.
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About Bloody, but unbowed
Mark Chapman’s setting of Invictus for SATB voices opens with a powerful and dramatic musical statement, reflecting the indomitable spirit of the text. The music follows the poem’s defiant assertion of self-mastery and inner strength in the face of adversity. The four vocal parts weave together, creating a rich texture that underscores the resolute message of the words. This is a secular art song that explores the theme of personal resilience, as articulated by the famous lines: "Out of the night that covers me… I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul." The SATB voicing allows for a full and resonant delivery of this iconic poem.
