Roger Lasher Nortman's Symphony No. 8 in G Major came after thirteen months of not writing, 1985-86. Between June 84 and July of 85 nothing was written, then he came back and wrote this symphony and the first movement is very long, probably the most stylistically original movement Nortman ever wrote, and it has a long clarinet solo. It also has five movements including two consecutive slow movements, one for winds and brass alone, and one for strings alone and a rondo finale. Symphony No. 20 is the first of the last five symphonies all in the major which shows some relief after the dark intensity of Symphonies No. 15 through 19.