Commissioned for the opening of the new Melbourne Town Hall, Euterpe is described as a homage to sound, and an attempt to show how the power of music permeates all phases and walks of life - 'in religion, in charity, in general high purposes, in war, in sorrow, in love, in the dance, at the feast, in far countries [and] at evening' (Argus 10 August 1870, p. 3). Kendall and Horsley both make reference to the Town Hall and the opening ceremony's musical concert - of which the ode was the feature presentation. The words of the final verse, which are underpinned by the musical accompaniment, make this apparent: 'The ringing, and ringing, and ringing / Of voices of choristers singing / Inspired by a national joy / Strike through the marvellous hall / Fly by the aisle and the wall; / While the organ notes roam / From basement to dome / Now low as a wail / Now loud as a gale'
