It was Carl Engel, the president of Schirmer Publishing in New York, who suggested to Schönberg that he compose the Theme and Variations for Full Band, Op. 43. Engel had two objectives in mind; for one thing, he believed that the American wind band repertoire should be enriched by a challenging work from an outstanding composer of new music and, for another, he thought that a success in that medium, so popular in America, could help Schönberg out of his financial difficulties.

Encouraged by h...