Tower described the origins of the title in the score program notes, writing, "The sound of the viola has always reminded me of the color purple-a deep kind of luscious purple.
"[1] This mental association was also reflected in her work Wild Purple, her first solo viola composition for Paul Neubauer.
To address this problem, Tower deliberately omitted instruments that share the viola's range, specifically horns and oboes.
[1] Allan Kozinn of The New York Times praised Purple Rhapsody, remarking, "...this Neo-Romantic score has its own allure, most notably a seductively singing solo viola line, set atop — and sometimes woven into — a sumptuous, assertive orchestral fabric.
"[2] The violist Paul Neubauer, for whom the concerto was written, also lauded the work, saying, "It's a fabulous, exciting piece.