The penultimate chord found in the theme to Messiaen's Vingt Regard serves as the harmonic and motivic basis for my Meditation, my "21st Regard." It is the only sonority that is "outside" of Messiaen's closed harmonic system, and the only one that comes as a complete surprise as its preparation to the final chord. My own "vision" was composed as a Homage to this great French composer of the 20th century.

The work is dedicated to Trinity Episcopal Church, Iowa City, Iowa, where it was premiered on September 26, 1999 by the composer. It was extensively revised in 2006.