does anyone else hear a strong hint of the Dresden Amen in the second theme (first movement) of this work (at least in the version that later appears in the trio of the Scherzo, maybe earlier? - same Dresden Amen also used by Mendelssohn in his 5th symphony and Wagner in Parsifal, I mean- ending C-D-Ef-F-F(held) ).
There certainly is a passing resemblance, Eric, both in the rhythmic shape of the phrases you mention and in the general mood of the music there. It's also worth noting that parts of the first theme group feature a descending stepwise phrase, so that this rising pattern could be considered, loosely, an inversion, which balances things out nicely.
That makes more sense. Thanks. :)