This publishing history tells of Bernhard Schott's beginnings as a music engraver, of the first heyday under "B. Schott's Söhne" in the 19th century, when important works by Beethoven like Symphony No. 9 and "Missa solemnis" were published by the publishing house, and of the collaboration with Richard Wagner. It also deals with the Schott and Strecker families of publishers, the dawn of modernity, the effects of two world wars, the years of reconstruction after 1945 and the expansion into a modern media company and an internationally operating publishing group.

The book is structured chronologically and conveys that the long company history is also a weighty piece of musical, social, intellectual and economic history. It deals with the development of the publishing programme from its early beginnings to the present day and contains portraits of the individual leading figures of the publishing house. The richly illustrated volume is complemented by essays on the most important areas of the publishing house, especially on its educational commitment, as well as on topics such as the publishing archives and sheet music production.