The F-A-E Sonata

(http://www.classicalm.com/en/composition/2402/FAE-Sonata-for-Piano-and-Violin)
no copyright infringement intended

The F-A-E Sonata has three composers: Robert Schumann (who had the idea), Johannes Brahms, and Albert Dietrich. It was a gift made to their friend, violinist Joseph Joachim, and he was invited by them one evening to play the piece at first view, together with Clara Schumann. The three composers challenged Joachim to identify the author for each part of the Sonata. He had no difficulty to do that.

Joseph Joachim
image by Reutlinger
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:JJReutlingerPS1.jpg)
no copyright infringement intended

Why F-A-E? These were the initials of the motto Joachim had chosen for himself: Frei Aber Einsam (Free But Lonely), and the three composers managed to put the F-A-E sequence of notes as a musical cryptogram in each part of the Sonata.

F-A-E Sonata (1853):1. Allegro, by Albert Dietrich
Oliver Colbentson, Violin and Erich Appel, Piano
(video by Nancy Colbentson)

F-A-E Sonata (1853):2. Intermezzo (Romanze), by  Robert Schumann
Oliver Colbentson, Violin and Erich Appel, Piano
(video by Nancy Colbentson)

F-A-E Sonata (1853):3. Scherzo (Allegro), by Johannes Brahms
Oliver Colbentson, Violin and Erich Appel, Piano
(video by Nancy Colbentson)

F-A-E Sonata (1853):4. Finale, by Robert Schumann
Oliver Colbentson, Violin and Erich Appel, Piano
(video by Nancy Colbentson)

(Aimez-vous Brahms?)

(Robert Schumann)