The melody of the piece is loosely based on "Ave Maria, o auctrix vite" by the 12th-century composer Hildegard of Bingen.
"[2] Andrew Farach-Colton of Gramophone also lauded the piece, writing:Christopher Theofanidis's Rainbow Body has exuberant outbursts of pure diatonic splendour that are not so far removed from Copland's 'prairie' harmonies, though Theofanidis's piece is actually based on a chant by the medieval mystic Hildegard von Bingen.
Indeed, Hildegard's melody is woven so seamlessly into the score's colourful fabric that one would likely never guess its provenance – especially given the music's distinctly American accent.
[5]A recording of Rainbow Body, performed by Robert Spano and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, was released in 2003 through Telarc.
The disk also featured Samuel Barber's Symphony in One Movement, Aaron Copland's Appalachian Spring, and Jennifer Higdon's blue cathedral.