Ernesto Koehler

Ernesto Koehler (ca.1900)

Ernesto Köhler (born December 4, 1849 in Modena , † March 17, 1907 in Saint Petersburg ) was a flautist and composer .

Life

Köhler received his first lessons from his father Giuseppe Venceslau Köhler (1809–1878). He was a flautist in the ducal court orchestra in Modena (then part of Austria). Ernesto went on concert tours early on with his brother, the pianist Ferdinando Köhler. After two years as a flautist at the Karlstheater in Vienna , Köhler moved in 1871 to Cesare Ciardi in St. Petersburg for the imperial ballet, where he also worked as a teacher. After Ciardi's death, Köhler was his successor and was therefore the solo flutist of the Imperial Opera . At that time he was considered the best flautist of his time. He also worked as a composer.

Ernesto Köhler, also an honorary citizen of St. Petersburg, remained loyal to his adopted home until his death in 1907. He worked on the collection of piano pieces "From the cradle to the grave" by Carl Reinecke . He used 8 of the original 16 pieces, giving the melody in the right hand almost without exception to the flute and adding the piano accompaniment very carefully. The keys remained authentic except for the piece “Trost”, which he transposed half a tone up.

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Köhler left behind over 100 flute compositions, mainly study and études, but also flute duets, duos with piano and a quartet for 4 flutes. With a few exceptions, almost all of his works were published by his friend Julius Heinrich Zimmermann's publishing house , whose flutes, which were made in the attached instrument factory, were also advertised by Köhler. While many of the romantic salon pieces with imaginative names are no longer available, Köhler's etude collections are constantly being reissued. They combine finger technology and musical training in a romantic style in an exemplary manner. Köhler also composed an opera and a ballet.

Web links

• Sheet music and audio files by Ernesto Köhler in the International Music Score Library Project