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From: cbf@allegra.UUCP (Francois)
Newsgroups: net.music.classical
Subject: Re: Poor composers (or ill-gotten motives)
Message-ID: <2490@allegra.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 22-May-84 10:28:11 EDT
Article-I.D.: allegra.2490
Posted: Tue May 22 10:28:11 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 23-May-84 19:06:25 EDT
References: <3783@tekecs.UUCP>, <2489@allegra.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 19


    > One of Brahms' students was analysing a composition of Brahms
	> and pointed out that one of themes was from a piece by another
	> composer.

    > Brahms' reply: "Any ass can see that!"

Just for the record, the theme in question is the C-major chorale tune
from the finale of his first symphony ("Beethoven's Tenth" -- how I hate
that nickname), which is very reminiscent, though not a direct quotation,
of the chorale (same key) in Beethoven's Ninth.  A lot has been made
of the similarities between Brahms' C-minor symphony and Beethoven's
C-minor (#5) and D-minor symphonies.  For my part, I, heresy!, prefer it
to either of the Beethovens.

Now, did you know that Brahms' Double Concerto contains a whole bar in
its first movement which is lifted directly from Beethoven's Ninth?
It's so cleverly integrated, it's practically invisible.
--
"Aimez-vous Brahms?"      Charles B. Francois     {...,decvax}!allegra!cbf