Musical dramaturgy in Ernesto Köhler's studies

This thesis examines the concept of dramaturgy, a fundamental element of theater, within the context of music, examining how musical dramaturgy is structured in selected Romantic etudes by flute virtuoso Ernesto Köhler. It emphasizes that dramaturgy encompasses elements such as text and character analysis in theater, while in music, it encompasses elements such as thematic structure, melodic motifs, and dynamic transitions. In this study, five of Köhler's Op. 66 etudes (Nos. 2, 4, 10, 13, and 25) were selected and their dramaturgical analyses were conducted using qualitative analysis. These analyses examined elements such as thematic development, characteristic motifs, dynamic and tempo shifts, and revealed both the technical and artistic aspects of the etudes. Each etude was found to offer a unique emotional narrative and possess a theatrical identity. The study demonstrates that musical dramaturgy can be used not only as an analytical tool but also as an aesthetic method of expression. It was concluded that Köhler's works, beyond acquiring technical skills, have the potential to enhance students' musical expression and stage presence. Consequently, it was suggested that the musical dramaturgy approach can be considered an effective method in music pedagogy and interpretation, can be applied to different composers, and should be incorporated into contemporary music education. The thesis demonstrated the interdisciplinary contributions and narrative power of the concept of dramaturgy, which lies at the intersection of theater and music.