Nathanael Hahn

“Victus” sets to music the poem of the same name written by the composer’s brother, Luke Hahn. This poem is written as a Christian’s response to the well-known poem “Invictus” by Willam Ernest Henley. The poem focuses on the distinct powerlessness man has over his own fate due to his sinful corruption (in contrast to the message of Henley’s words). The text ends with a direct quote from Henley, but with a play on his final couplet: “The Lord is master of my fate: / The captain of my conquered soul.” (emphasis added)

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“Victus” has a hymnic, even chant-like, texture, so as to emphasize the weighty and dire condition of humanity portrayed in the text. It maintains a haunting Dorian flavor throughout, but teases a major key, illustrating man’s doomed false hope in himself. Finally, the music does indeed break fully into D major, signifying the true hope found only in the death and resurrection of Christ, the true Captain of the Christian’s soul.