Look to the Rainbow: SSA Choral Octavo

Jay Althouse's arrangement captures the warmth and optimism of Lane's original song without overwhelming a developing SSA ensemble. The Irish inflection feels natural rather than forced, and the piece hits that sweet spot where it's genuinely fun to perform while still sounding polished in concert.

Bright and uplifting, with a hint of folk warmth. The piece radiates optimism and joy without sacrificing musicality, making it feel both contemporary and timeless at once.

This arrangement works for treble choirs at the high school, community, and collegiate levels. It's equally at home in a pop choral series concert, a spring pops show, or an all-female ensemble recital.

• Shape the melody with careful attention to phrase direction; the song's effectiveness depends on long, singing lines rather than driving rhythmically.
• Balance the parts so the sopranos' melody sits just above the inner voices, creating clarity without isolation.
• Lean into the Irish character through articulation and rhythmic lilt, but avoid overselling the accent.
• Use the recorded accompaniment during rehearsals to lock ensemble entrances and solidify intonation across all three parts.

Program this alongside other Broadway standards or American musical theater repertoire for a pops concert. It also pairs beautifully with other Irish-inflected pieces or works celebrating hope and resilience. The 12-page octavo length makes it manageable for concert programming.

• Singing in three-part SSA voicing with independent line independence
• Interpreting stylistic elements of American musical theater
• Sustaining phrases with consistent legit tone production
• Blending treble voices while maintaining clarity of harmonic function