Symphony No. 9 (Schubert)

Symphony No.9
The Great
by Franz Schubert
Last page of the symphony (autograph manuscript)
KeyC major
CatalogueD 944
Composed1824-1826
Published1849
PublisherBreitkopf & Härtel
Duration55 minutes
Movements4

The Symphony No. 9 in C major, D 944, known as The Great, is the final symphony completed by Franz Schubert. It was first published by Breitkopf & Härtel in 1849 as "Symphonie / C Dur / für großes Orchester" and listed as Symphony No. 8 in the New Schubert Edition. Originally called The Great C major to distinguish it from his Symphony No. 6, the Little C major, the subtitle is now usually taken as a reference to the symphony's majesty. Unusually long for a symphony of its time, a typical performance of The Great lasts around one hour when all repeats indicated in the score are taken. The symphony was not professionally performed until a decade after Schubert's death in 1828.