Wohlfahrt: Selected Studies in 2 Books, free downloads

We like to assign our students the Wohlfahrt studies as soon as they are mature enough for them. We love the popular Op. 45 books but we think there are some hidden gems in the other books too. As we don't want to overwhelm our students (and their parents!) having to get/print out all 5 books, we have done some pdf editing and created two books of selected studies that you can download below.

This is not a new idea, because firstly K. H. Aiqouni in the first half of the 20th century (currently out of print) and more recently Rachel Barton Pine (beautiful edition with new fingerings, dynamics, DVD and all!) have already compiled these studies, but we thought it would be very handy to have a personal selection available in digital format.

Wohlfahrt - Selected Studies Book 1.pdf

Wohlfahrt - Selected Studies Book 2.pdf

There are 63 studies in total, ordered by level of difficulty and category: easy/advanced 1st position, 3rd position, shifting, advanced 3rd position, etc. This is the full list of contents including key signatures and technical focus of each study:

Book 1:

• Elemental studies in 1st position:
  • Op. 45/1. C major. Bow strokes.
  • Op. 54/5. C major. Bow distribution.
  • Op. 54/6. F major. Bow distribution.
  • Op. 54/8. G major. Bow distribution.
  • Op. 54/9. G major. Arpeggios.
  • Op. 54/10. C major. Fingers articulation/trills.
  • Op. 54/11. C major. Bow distribution.
  • Op. 45/13. G major. Semiquavers ends of bow
  • Op. 45/13. G major. Bow distribution.
  • Op. 45/14. D major. Arpeggios.
  • Op. 45/15. C major. Light detaché.
  • Op. 45/16. C major. Chromatics.
  • Op. 45/17. D major. Arpeggios.
  • Op. 45/18. G major. Fingers articulation, 4th finger workout.
  • Op. 45/22. C Major. Legato, bow changes off the beat.
  • Op. 54/24. E minor. Legato, chromatics.
  • Op. 54/25. E major. Arpeggios, detaché.
  • Op. 54/26. Eb Major. Legato, fingers articulation.
    
    
• 3rd position:
  • Op. 74/27. G major.
  • Op. 74/28. F major.
  • Op. 74/29. A minor.
    
    
• Changing positions:
  • Op. 74/30. G major. Shifts through open strings.
  • Op. 74/31. C major. Shifts through open strings.
  • Op. 74/32. D minor. Shifts through open strings.
  • Op. 45/36. D major. Shifts through finger notes.
  • Op. 45/37. Bb major. Shifts through finger notes.

Book 2:

• Advanced studies in 1st position:
  • Op. 45/6. F major. Bow articulation, accidentals.
  • Op. 74/8. G major. Ease of bowing.
  • Op. 74/9. A minor. Bow distribution.
  • Op. 74/10. E minor. Fingers articulation, 4th finger workout.
  • Op. 45/12. Eb Major. Bow stroke 1 Vs 2.
  • Op. 74/16. Eb major. Legato.
  • Op. 45/20. G minor. Legato.
  • Op. 74/21. C major. Bow stroke 1 Vs 3.
  • Op. 74/22. A major. 1st finger back extension.
  • Op. 74/23. C major. 4th finger extension.
  • Op. 45/24. C major. Up bow staccato.
  • Op. 45/25. D major. Bow stroke 1 Vs 3.
  • Op. 45/29. A Major. Legato.
  • Op. 45/30. G Major. 4th finger extension, Legato.
  • Op. 54/35. Ornaments.
  • Op. 54/36. Ornaments.
  • Op. 54/37. Ornaments.
    
    
• Changing positions:
  • Op. 74/33. D major. Shifts through open strings.
  • Op. 74/34. G minor. Shifts through open strings.
  • Op. 74/35. A major. Shifts through open strings.
  • Op. 74/36. G major. Shifts through same finger.
  • Op. 74/37. D major. Shifts through different fingers.
  • Op. 45/38. Bb major. Shifts through different fingers.
  • Op. 74/45. A major. Shifts through different fingers.
  • Op. 74/46. D minor. Shifts through same note-different finger.
  • Op. 74/47. C major. Up bow staccato.
  • Op. 45/57. D minor. Various kinds of shifts.
  • Op. 45/58. G major. Shifts through same note-different finger.
    
    
• Advanced studies in 1st to 3rd positions:
  • Op. 74/38. C major. Octaves (not double stops).
  • Op. 74/39. Bb major. Legato, Chromatics in 3rd pos.
  • Op. 45/40. G major. Ricochet.
  • Op. 74/41. A major. Acciaccatura, Legato.
  • Op. 45/44. A minor. Linked bows.
  • Op. 45/46. C major. Up bow staccato.
  • Op. 45/47. A minor. Sostenuto, Portato, Vibrato.
  • Op. 45/50. G Major. Octaves (not double stops).
  • Op. 45/51. F major. Fingers articulation.
    
    

If you'd like to play some of those in duo with your students, we have found 2nd violin accompaniments in the following books: 

- Op. 45 Book 1, arranged by Rachel Kelly (whole of book 1)

- Elementary Studies Book 1 for Violin by Josef Micka (Op.45 nos. 1, 5, 14, 3, 7, 6, 13, 18, 10, 11, 16, 23, 21, 8, 19, 24, 28 and 27; Op. 54 nos. 2, 9 and 35)

- Violin Playing Books 3 and 4 by Robert Trory (Op.45 nos. 28, 39, 42, 57, 47 and 20; Op. 74 no. 33)