Carmen Etonense

Album: Rule Britannia (1877)
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Songfacts®:

  • Also known "The Carmen" or simply "Carmen," the school song of Eton College is actually sung in Latin. Less well known than the "Eton Boating Song," it was composed by J. Barnby with words by A. C. Ainger.
  • Both the song's writers worked at Eton. Sir Joseph Barnby (1838-96) was educated at the Royal Academy of Music, and served as Precentor at Eton from 1875–92 before moving to the Guildhall School of Music as Principal. Arthur Campbell Ainger (1841–1919) was an alumnus of the school who went on to become an assistant master and then a house master.
  • The English translation of the song says basically as long as England flourishes, so will Eton. It was first sung on December 18, 1877, at the school concert. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England, for above 3

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