This work investigates the stylistic evolution and historical significance of Igor Stravinsky's compositions through the subjective lens of two practicing composers. Authors Elmer Schonberger and Louis Andriessen utilize their professional backgrounds to move beyond traditional musicological analysis. They present a series of episodic reflections that examine Stravinsky's aesthetic choices, his influence on the twentieth-century musical landscape, and the specific mechanics of his creative output. The text functions as a dialogue between the authors and the subject, prioritizing artistic insight over formal academic dissection.

Experts frequently cite this book as a unique contribution to music literature because it offers the perspective of composers rather than musicologists. Readers often note that the prose is highly accessible and avoids the dense, technical jargon typical of academic music theory texts.