What do the Weber concerti and Brahms sonatas have in common?

There’s an interesting connection between Carl Maria von Weber’s two clarinet concerti and Brahms two clarinet sonatas.

Any guesses what it is?

• Weber Concerto No. 1 in f minor, Op. 73
• Weber Concerto No. 2 in E-flat Major, Op. 74
• Brahms Sonata No. 1 in f minor, Op. 120, No. 1
• Brahms Sonata No. 2 in E-flat Major, Op. 120, No. 2

Notice any similarities?

They share the same key signatures!

So, is this pure coincidence, or was this intentional on Brahms’ part?

Weber composed his two clarinet concerti in 1811 for the German clarinetist Heinrich Baermann. Eighty years later in March 1891, Brahms heard German clarinetist Richard Mühlfeld perform Weber’s Concerto No. 1 in f minor with the Meiningen Court Orchestra. Brahms was captivated by Mühlfeld’s playing and subsequently wrote a clarinet trio, quintet, and the two aforementioned sonatas for Mühlfeld.

In addition to sharing the same key signatures with the Weber concerti, the Brahms sonatas have similarities between certain intervals, rhythms, and other musical elements, according to some musicians.

So, I’ll let you be the judge – is this purely coincidental, or do you think Brahms chose these key signatures as a tribute to Weber?