Mollenhauer, Edward R.

1827-

 

Violinist; the youngest of three brothers; born at Erfurt, Saxony. He received his first instruction under his brother Frederic, then studied under Ernst and Spohr. After playing in Germany and under the patronage of Archduchess of Dessau in St. Petersburg, he was ordered back to Germany to do military service, but fled to England, joining Jullien's Orchestra as solo violinist, and coming to America with that orchestra in 1853. He founded a school for violin-playing in New York. He was one of the first teachers in America to use the Conservatory system of teaching. Among his compositions are an opera, The Corsican Bride; two comic operas, Breakers, and the Masque Ball; violin-pieces; string  quartet; some songs; a Passion symphony, and two other symphonies.