Symphonies of Wind Instruments by Igor Stravinsky; Suite from The Red Pony by Aaron Copland; Ten of a Kind (Symphony No. 2) for Clarinet and Wind Ensemble by David Rakowski; Adagio para Orquesta De Instrumentos de Viento by Joaquin Rodrigo by Ediciones Joaquin Rodrigo; Lento maestoso and Finale from Symphony No. 2 by Charles Ives.

Each composer addresses the following topics: Biographical information, The creative process ... how a composer works, Orchestration, Views from the composer to the conductor, Commissioning new works, The teaching of composition, Influential individuals, Ten works all band conductors at all levels should study, Ten composers whose music speaks in especially meaningful ways, The future of the wind band, Other facets of everyday life, Comprehensive list of works for band.

The book provides a historical survey of the wind band’s music and denotes how historical and cultural developments have influenced it over the course of time. Although the modern wind band developed first in the 19th century, it has its roots in the wind music of ancient times, and music survives that has been composed since the Middle Ages. Therefore, this book covers the music from that time to the present, including the dance music of the Renaissance, the Harmoniemusik of the Classical Period, and the nationalistic music of the Romantic Period, as well as the major wind band repertoire developed after 1900.