One of Elgar's earliest pieces, written in 1878 when the composer was 21 years of age, is the 'Hymn Tune in F major'. This was later published under the title Drakes Broughton (hymn number 151 in the Westminster Hymnal) and it also re-appeared as the Aubade in his 1931 work, the Nursery Suite.

South-east of Worcester lie the two small hamlets of Wadborough and Drakes Broughton, and its from the name of this second village that Elgar took the title of the hymn tune.

A narrow wooded lane connects the two villages and Elgar once remarked to a friend that he intended to 'haunt' this lane and it has been said that the composer's presence has been felt, on more than one occasion, by someone passing along this lane.

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