THE "UNFINISHED" SYMPHONY

Dramatic, beautiful, and mysterious, too. Franz Schubert’s eighth symphony, the "Unfinished," has had people wondering for nearly two hundred years. Traditionally, symphonies had four movements, but this one ended at two. Many people think Schubert died while writing it, but he composed it six years before his death, and wrote plenty of other music after that.

Here's what some experts think:

• Schubert felt the symphony was complete as is, no need to add more. There is some evidence that he started a third movement and abandoned it.
  
• He finished two movements but used them in other compositions.
  
• The last two movements were lost by his friend, Herr Huttenbrenner, who was resonsible for their safekeeping.

What we know for sure is that the "Unfinished" Symphony is spectacular. When you can’t hear it in concert, listen to it at home. And pump up the volume, this is not elevator music.