Dulce Domum

Dulce Domum, the famous song still sung, with the aid of a band, at Winchester College, on the eve of the break-up day for the summer holidays. The origin of both words and music is very uncertain—it is usual to ascribe the former to one Turner, probably him who became Bishop of Ely and was one of the Seven Bishops under James II.; the latter, to Johannes Reading, organist of the college from 1681 to 1689. A school tradition makes both the work of a home-sick Wykehamist, who was kept at school during the holidays for a misdemeanour, and who played it incessantly until he pined away and died. See vol. ii. (pp. 576-579) of Chappell's Popular Music of the Olden Time, where, with the Latin text and the music, a good translation by Bishop Charles Wordsworth is given.