Minturn finds a central theme of Prokofiev's oeuvre to be the interplay between tradition and innovation. He discusses the composer's diverse compositional procedures (tonal versus "modern" devices), as well as the political and cultural influences on Prokofiev's works. Minturn shows how the content and structure of individual pieces and movements took shape, how Prokofiev developed the notion of five musical lines, and how the idea of the "wrong note" in his music plays out. A surprisingly constant harmonic and rhythmic sense permeates Prokofiev's evolving style, as measured by relatively "harmonic" or "contrapuntal" emphasis. Minturn analyzes works for piano, orchestra, various chamber ensembles, and voice (including the opera The Gambler) and considers works in each category from various periods in Prokofiev's career. For readers with an interest in a particular work, the analyses stand alone and need not be read sequentially.