Look To The Rainbow: 2-Part Choral Octavo

Mark Hayes strips this standard down to its essence without losing the warmth that makes the song endure. A 2-part arrangement opens the piece to choirs still building voicing confidence, yet the harmonic language stays interesting enough to hold an audience's attention.

Optimistic without saccharine, the tune carries the earnestness of its original story while the arrangement leans into a conversational, almost casual warmth. There is something deeply human about the melody; it does not strain for effect.

Directors building a secular concert with music from the Great American Songbook will find this a natural fit for mixed or treble choirs. Intermediate ensembles benefit from the straightforward voicing and the chance to tackle real jazz-pop idiom without overwhelming technical demands.

• Treat the melody as a legit song, not a novelty. The text matters; shape phrases around the words rather than bar lines.
• Balance is everything in a 2-part texture. If one voice disappears into the background, the arrangement collapses. Rehearse each part independently so both singers own their line.
• The recorded accompaniment sets a laid-back tempo. Resist pushing ahead; let the jazz feel breathe and swing gently.

Pair this with other mid-century American song standards to create a program segment that audiences recognize and enjoy. Its brevity also makes it ideal filler between longer works or as a concert opener that settles listeners into the evening.

• Singing jazz inflection and swing feel in a choral context
• Balancing two independent melodic lines without one drowning the other
• Sustaining lyrical phrasing across longer phrases
• Working with a recorded jazz accompaniment that requires flexibility and listening