[1][2] It is a work in two movements lasting together about fourteen minutes:[1] Noteworthy in the context of Sessions' symphonies is the use of maracas to accompany the theme in the first movement.
[citation needed] Andrea Olmstead describes all of Sessions's symphonies as "serious" and "funereal", with No.
8 combines the, "fearsome rhythmic and harmonic densities," of his maturity, "with the extended melodic phrases," which were always characteristic of Sessions.
[4] The symphony was premiered on May 2, 1968, by the New York Philharmonic conducted by William Steinberg.
[1] The symphony is scored for a large orchestra consisting of three flutes (third doubling alto flute), three oboes, four clarinets (fourth doubling E♭ clarinet), four bassoons (fourth doubling contrabassoon), four horns, three trumpets, four trombones, tuba, timpani, two percussionists, piano, harp, and strings.