Look To The Rainbow (from Finian's Rainbow): SAB Choral Octavo

This arrangement captures the soaring optimism of the original without demanding virtuosic technique, making it accessible for mid-level choirs while preserving what makes the song memorable. The SAB voicing balances harmonic interest with singability, and the text about hope and possibility never feels corny in Purifoy's hands. It's the kind of piece that reminds singers why they love being in a choir.

There's a quiet, earnest quality to this song; it's not bombastic even in its moments of aspiration. The melody unfolds with a kind of gentle persistence, like someone sharing a sincere belief rather than making a grand proclamation. Singing it creates a sense of connection, both among the singers and between the choir and the audience.

Any choir singing a Broadway or American songbook concert will find this rewarding. The SAB voicing makes it suitable for mixed ensembles that span a range of experience levels, from high school groups to community choirs looking for repertoire with substance.

• Establish the legit (non-belted) vocal quality the song requires; this is concert singing, not musical theater. Encourage sustained, supported tone rather than the bright projection some singers might instinctively reach for.
• Pay attention to the arch of each phrase. The melody wants to soar, so shape the line upward toward the climactic moments rather than flattening out or pressing early.
• Keep the accompaniment warm but transparent so the voices remain the focus. This song lives or dies by how the text lands with the audience.

Pair this with other American songbook selections for a program celebrating mid-century musical theater, or use it as a closing number to leave the audience with something uplifting and thoughtful. Its lyrical simplicity also makes it effective as a concert opener that sets a warm, accessible tone for what follows.

• Legit singing technique and sustained vowel shapes across a range
• Phrasing and line shape in a melody-driven arrangement
• Balance and blend in SAB voicing with moving inner parts
• Interpretation of American songbook style and conventions