Ernesto Köhler, circa 1900
Source: Wikipedia
Ernesto Köhler’s Op. 33 Book 1 flute etudes are widely regarded as essential staples in the flute literature. This is because of the technical and musical challenges they present, designed for the growth and development of flutists’ skills. These romantic and charming flute etudes have been used as teaching tools for more than a century and continue to inspire students and flute teachers alike. If you are currently learning Köhler’s Op. 33 Book 1, you are likely to have developed a decent grasp of essential flute technique, tone production, and overall musicality. These etudes will certainly provide you with valuable opportunities to further refine your skills and progress in your playing.
History and Background…
Ernesto Köhler (1849-1907) was a virtuoso flutist and prolific composer. Born in Modena, Italy, young Ernesto was taught to play the flute by his father, Venceslau Joseph Köhler. Ernesto Köhler moved to Vienna in 1869 and eventually became a member of the Imperial Opera orchestra in Saint Petersburg. Köhler wrote numerous studies for the flute. Among these, his Der Fortschritt im Flötenspiel (Progress in Flute Playing), Op. 33 includes three volumes, progressing from Easy (Vol. 1) to Medium-Difficult (Vol. 2) and Difficult (Vol. 3).
Each of the three volumes of “Der Fortschritt im Flötenspiel” was dedicated to a notable contemporary of Köhler’s:
Volume 1: 15 Easy Exercises (15 leichte Übungstücke) was dedicated to Theodor Waterstraat (1835-96), Professor at the St. Petersburg Conservatory and solo flute of the Imperial Mariinsky Theater.
Volume 2: 12 Medium-Difficult Exercises (12 mittelschwere Übungstücke) was dedicated to Roman Kukula (1851-1908), Professor at the Vienna Conservatory and solo flute of the Vienna Philharmonic.
Volume 3: 8 Difficult Exercises (8 schwere Übungstücke) was dedicated to the most well-known flutist from this era, Paul Taffanel (1844-1908), Professor at the Paris Conservatoire and solo flute of the Paris Opera.
Dedicatees of Köhler’s Op. 33 “Der Fortschritt im Flötenspiel” (L to R: Theodor Waterstraat, Roman Kukula, Paul Taffanel)
Because of their popularity, Köhler’s Op. 33 Book 1 flute etudes have been reprinted and re-edited numerous times since their first publication in the 1880s. This volume of flute etudes can appear as:
Der Fortschritt im Flötenspiel, Heft 1
Progress in Flute Playing, Vol. 1
15 Easy Exercises, Opus 33 Book 1
15 Petites études mélodiques (in “Melodious and Progressive Studies for Flute, Vol. 1”)
Many Editions and Editors…
In their nearly 150 years in existence, Köhler’s Op. 33 flute etudes have seen many editions and editors. Many versions suffer from the heavy-handed editing practices of the mid-20th century. Having searched the internet to the best of my abilities, the earliest (and least edited) version available seems to be the 1905 Carl Fisher edition. I continue to search for an earlier edition and, if you have any leads, please contact me.
A side-by-side comparison of the 1905 Carl Fisher edition with Robert Cavally’s edit (date unknown) shows many dynamic discrepancies (red circles) and added notes (green circles).
A New Edition…
In 2025, I set out to create a personal edition of Kohler’s Op. 33 Book 1 flute etudes to use for teaching and to share with others. Since there are already many editions out there (including free sheet music online), I had a few goals:
A cleaner print free of pencil marks (compare to IMSLP)
A more restrained editing style with minimal additions (compare to “Melodious and Progressive Studies” and other free online versions)
Create a LARGER PRINT sheet music version
Köhler Op. 33 Book 1 Etudes…
Allegro Moderato in C Major (alt. Allegretto) - Flute Etude No. 1 by Ernesto Köhler, Op. 33 Book 1 from “Der Fortschritt im Flötenspiel, Heft 1” (Progress in Flute Playing, Vol. 1).