Franz Schubert's ‘Symphony No. 8’ in B minor, D 759, commonly known as the ‘Unvollendete’ (‘Unfinished Symphony’), is a composition that Schubert started in 1822 but left with only two movements - though he lived for another six years. A scherzo, nearly completed in piano score but with only two pages orchestrated, also survives. One possible reason for Schubert's leaving the symphony incomplete is the predominance of the same meter (triple meter). The first movement is in 3/4, the second in 3/8 and the third (an incomplete scherzo) again in 3/4. Three consecutive movements in basically the same meter rarely occur in symphonies, sonatas, or chamber works of the most important Viennese composers.
Schubert's ‘Symphony No. 8’ is sometimes called the first Romantic symphony due to its emphasis on the lyrical impulse within the dramatic structure. Together with his ‘Symphony No. 5’ and ‘Symphony No. 9’ the ‘Unvollendete’ belongs to his most performed orchestral pieces. Dutch arranger Marc Koninkx transcribed both movements of ‘Symphony No. 8’ for Symphonic Band. In this edition the first movement ‘Allegro moderato’.