Steve Schwarz wrote:

>I've noticed a similarity of part of Brahms's second piano concerto to
>Foster's "Beautiful Dreamer." Coincidence?

Steve, do you mean Brahms's 2nd Symphony? If so, you aren't the first
person to spot the similarity.  Peter Schikele (aka PDQ Bach) combined the
two in the "beginning" of his "Unbegun Symphony".  Schikele has an amazing
ability to spot similarities between themes.  E.g., in the same "Unbegun
Symphony", he combines the beginning of Mozart's 41st Symphony with
"Anchors Aweigh".

How about this similarity:  Mozart's Piano Sonata K545 and Brahms's
Hungarian Dance no.  5.  If you change the Mozart into a minor key, or
the Brahms into a major key, they sound very similar.

Mike