Composed on the banks of the Yarra, after realising that Muriel’s Concert, aka the Soprano song, wasn’t nearly enthusiastic enough about my favourite voice part.

October 1999

After much consideration, I’m
Led to one conclusion, which is this:
Tenor girls and sops will waste your time;
Only altos bring eternal bliss.
Something in their husky, tuneful tones
Activates an instinct deep inside.
Resonating through a bass’s bones;
Energies that cannot be denied.
Sappho was an alto, you can tell –
Excellence in arts for them’s not rare;
Xena too (but not young Gabrielle) –
If you get an alto mad, beware!
Every bass who’s tried the alto way
Recommends you do the same, today!