In his day, Robert Haas endeavoured to compile an 'optimum' version of the Eighth from both scores; Leopold Nowak, by contrast, believed it quite possible to discern Bruckner's final preferences – particularly in the case of the Eighth – and was adamant that the "correction" of Bruckner scores to bring them into line with time-hallowed notions of how they should sound was no longer to be tolerated.

Instrumentation: 3,3,3,3,-8(5-8+WagnerTb),3,3,1- Timp.Trgl.Cym.- 2-3Hp-Str