Finnish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara wrote his Symphony No. 8, subtitled The Journey, in 1999. The total playing time is approximately 28 minutes.
Piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets in B flat, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns in F, 4 trumpets in C, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, vibraphone, xylophone, glockenspiel, tubular bells, 4 tom-toms, cymbal (suspended), gong (30"), 3 tam-tams, 2 harps, strings.
Philadelphia Orchestra / Wolfgang Sawallisch, April 27, 2000
Rautavaara's symphony has been recorded four times since 1999.
| Orchestra | Conductor | Record Company | Year of Recording | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra | Leif Segerstam | Ondine Records | 2001 | CD |
| Lahti Symphony Orchestra | Osmo Vänskä | BIS Records | 2004 | CD |
| New Zealand Symphony Orchestra | Pietari Inkinen | Naxos Records | 2006 | CD |
| Philadelphia Orchestra | Wolfgang Sawallisch | RM Associates / Image Entertainment (Region 1) | 2000 (First European Performance in Kölner Philharmonie) | DVD |