My experience with this work was unique, in that I had the chance to hear from many of Branden's friends before I began work on the piece. Jim Tallman, the director of bands at Washington (Illinois) Community High School, asked his ensemble to take the time to write about Brandon in any way they wished. He then sent these letters to me to provide a framework for the piece. As I read the letters, I was moved by the stories related to rainbows.

As I read about each occurrence of the rainbow, my mind moved from cerebral thoughts about chance and coincidence to an ever-growing certainty and trust in the fact that there was wonderful things in the world that cannot be explained. Chills ran down my spine, and I knew that this was something that needed to be expressed. The piece, then, is structured with the idea of telling a story that begins on a dark, cloudy morning. Rain falls lightly, then gradually increases as a storm (both real and emotional) surges. Eventually, calmness and hope emerge as a rainbow (played by a solo trumpet) appears.