Schubert’s 8th Symphony: The Unfinished

Despite writing nine symphonies, he only produced two movements for his 8th. Why was this?

During his 31 years, the Austrian composer Franz Schubert (1797–1828) wrote nine symphonies, or should that be eight-and-a-half? The question mark is there because his 8th Symphony comprises only two movements, although they are among the best pieces he ever wrote.

This was by no means his final composition. The 8th Symphony, in B Minor, was started in 1822 and the two movements were fully scored for orchestra. He also wrote a third movement, a scherzo, but only in piano score, with just the first two pages completed for orchestra. There is no trace of a final movement.

Schubert was a prolific composer who continued to write until shortly before his death. The completed pieces include his magnificent 9th Symphony in C Major, which has long been known as “The Great”.

So why was the 8th Symphony never completed? Or was it?

There are several mysteries about the symphony that have never been solved. One of them is that it is known that Schubert gave the incomplete score to a friend in 1823, and the friend did not reveal its existence until 23 years after Schubert’s death. Why was this? And why were several pages torn from the scherzo at some time before it was eventually brought to light? What was on those missing pages?