[1][2] The piece was co-commissioned by the New York City Ballet, leading to a strong sense of rhythm throughout the entire work.

For it, Adams received the University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award for Music Composition.

[4] The work is in three movements: It is dedicated to the memory of David Huntley of Boosey & Hawkes.

The first recording was with the London Symphony Orchestra, featuring soloist Gidon Kremer,[3] and conducted by Kent Nagano, released as Nonesuch 79360–2.

[7] In 2017 Orchid Classics released a recording (coupled with the Korngold violin concerto), with soloist Ilya Gringolts and the Copenhagen Philharmonic conducted by Santtu-Matias Rouvali, reference ORC100066.