This was a "flash mob" performance I arranged, produced and directed in October, 2011 for the donor recognition opening gala for the new C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and Von Voigtlander Women's Hospital at the University of Michigan. The organizers wanted to have a surprise number at the close of dinner as a "thank you" to all those in attendance who donated funds for the building of the new hospitals. 

It was the first time I worked with a planning committee so closely on a gig, as well as the first time I'd written for a choir. After much discussion, it was decided that we'd present a medley of "The Rainbow Connection" (from the original Muppet Movie) and "Over the Rainbow," two songs about wonder, longing, and mystery- completely appropriate for a children's hospital, I think. 
I couldn't help but think as I worked on the music about all the souls who would soon be coming and going through the building, especially those who would not leave. The new hospital is a beautiful place and I think they did a really great job making it a friendly environment for healing.

The performance of "Rainbows" was recorded on video- however, the video is of such poor quality (and very out of sync with the sound) that it is difficult to watch. So I converted it to a sound file. 

The 16-person choir, their conductor, and the nine other musicians (all students at the School of Music, Theatre and Dance) had to appear out of nowhere. So that is why you don't hear everything perfectly- everyone but the stationary instruments were coming in to the lobby from a distance away.
The flutist had to sneak out from behind a pillar, and the rhythm section was on a stage covered by a curtain which dropped as the music began. Everyone else rushed into the area from a nearby hallway. It was quite an operation to create a musical flash-mob of this size (26 people) and have it magically materialize in the middle of a crowd of 350 having dinner. 
Near the end of the songs a large group of patients and their families joined the musicians in the performance area.
 If the announcer sounds familiar, well, that's because it is Carl Grapentine, the voice of Michigan Stadium. And yes, I did refer to "The Victors" in the flute introduction.

The performers were:

Flute- Alexandra Rodriguez
Trombone- Max Hully
Trumpet- Gabriel Steiner
Tenor Sax- Yuma Uesaka
Ukelele/Guitar- Kirsten Carey
Synth/keyboard- Matthew Endahl
Drums- Ben Linstrom
Electric Bass- Billy Satterwhite

Solo vocalist- Emily Berman

Choir Conductor- George Case IV

Choir:
Heidi Madagame
William Walters
Samantha Winter
Nathan Reiff
Joseph Baldwin
Sarah Paquet
Maureen Ferguson
Arian Khaefi
Kenneth Sieloff
Mary Katherine Martin
Glen Rideout
Kelly Hedgspeth
JoAnna Ford
Alexander Sutton
Amy Petrongelli
Nicholas Nestorak

Rainbows

This is a computer sound file of an arrangement I wrote (in 2004?) for my sister Hope Vestergaard having to do with her children's book called Hillside Lullaby:

http://www.amazon.com/Hillside-Lullaby-Hope-Vestergaard/dp/0525472150

One of my brothers wrote the original melody based on words from the book. I reharmonized it and tried to make it sleepy and cozy in this version.

Christopher Smith 25

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