Wohlfahrt Op. 45: violin études you can hear
Franz Wohlfahrt’s 60 Studies for the Violin, Op. 45. 10 studies are on this site so far, each playing in your browser with a slow, a practice and a goal tempo, a loop over any bars, and versions for other instruments where the notes fit.
The studies
| Study | Key | Tempo | Metre | Bars | Also for | Video |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wohlfahrt Etude 1 (Op. 45 No. 1) | C major | Allegro moderato | 4/4 | 28 | B♭ clarinet, F horn | Play-along |
| Wohlfahrt Etude 2 (Op. 45 No. 2) | C major | Allegro moderato | 4/4 | 27 | B♭ clarinet, B♭ trumpet, F horn | Play-along |
| Wohlfahrt Etude 3 (Op. 45 No. 3) | G major | Moderato | 2/4 | 30 | B♭ clarinet, F horn | Play-along |
| Wohlfahrt Etude 4 (Op. 45 No. 4) | G major | Allegretto | 2/4 | 42 | B♭ clarinet, F horn | Play-along |
| Wohlfahrt Etude 5 (Op. 45 No. 5) | F major | Moderato | 3/4 | 32 | B♭ clarinet, B♭ trumpet, F horn | Play-along |
| Wohlfahrt Etude 6 (Op. 45 No. 6) | F major | Moderato | 2/4 | 32 | B♭ clarinet, B♭ trumpet, F horn | Play-along |
| Wohlfahrt Etude 7 (Op. 45 No. 7) | B-flat major | Allegro moderato | 4/4 | 40 | B♭ clarinet, B♭ trumpet, F horn | Play-along |
| Wohlfahrt Etude 8 (Op. 45 No. 8) | A minor | Largo | 3/4 | 32 | B♭ clarinet, F horn | Play-along |
| Wohlfahrt Etude 9 (Op. 45 No. 9) | D major | Allegretto | 6/8 | 32 | B♭ clarinet, F horn | Play-along |
| Wohlfahrt Etude 10 (Op. 45 No. 10) | A major | Moderato | 2/4 | 16 | B♭ clarinet, B♭ trumpet, F horn | Play-along |
About the book
Franz Wohlfahrt (1833–1884) wrote his 60 Studies, Op. 45 for young violinists, and they are still the first étude book many teachers hand out. The book comes in two parts: Book I, Nos. 1–30, stays in first position; Book II, Nos. 31–60, moves into third position.
The early studies are short and plain on purpose: a steady line of eighths or sixteenths in an easy key, so the attention can go to the bow. The Schirmer edition prints a set of bowing variants above several of them; the notes stay the same for every variant.
How to practise with the player
Pick one study, set the player to the slow tempo and loop two bars at a time. When those bars are even and in tune, raise the tempo by 4 and move on. The printed bowing variants are worth doing one by one at a slow tempo; the player gives you the notes and a steady beat to hold them to.
The full book is public domain and scanned on IMSLP. The player has the notes and rhythms only, so keep the printed page for slurs, bowings and dynamics.
Questions
- What level are the Wohlfahrt Op. 45 études?
- Early intermediate. Book I (Nos. 1–30) is in first position and suits students a year or two in; Book II (Nos. 31–60) adds third position.
- Which Wohlfahrt étude should I start with?
- No. 1, in C major, is the usual start: eighth notes on all four strings with the left hand staying in one place. Nos. 2 to 6 add string crossings, sixteenths and new keys a little at a time.
- Where can I get the Wohlfahrt Op. 45 sheet music?
- The whole book is public domain and scanned on IMSLP (linked on this page). Each study page here names the exact edition its notes came from.
- Can I play these on clarinet, trumpet or horn?
- Most study pages have versions written for B♭ clarinet and F horn, and some for B♭ trumpet, where every note fits the instrument's range. They sound at the violin's pitch.
Other study books
- Kayser Op. 20 (violin)
- Rose 32 Etudes (clarinet)
- Ferling Op. 31 (oboe)
- Easy pieces for violin, cello, flute, clarinet, trumpet and sax
Your study isn’t here?
Photograph the page with ScoreLens and it plays in the app the same way: slower, looped, in your key. It reads single-line parts from printed music.
