Career summary

Möllendorf studied at the Berlin Hochschule für Musik (1891‒93), and was thereafter active as a pianist and conductor in Giessen, Berlin, and finally Stettin. He was known especially for his experimentation with quarter-tones, for which he invented a bichromatic harmonium. In the latter connection he gave a lecture in Vienna on quarter-tone music on January 20, 1917, a report of which influenced Alois Hába in his microtonal work. Möllendorf composed several pieces for the quarter-tone medium, and also wrote operas, a ballet, two symphonies, etc for the regular chromatic medium.

Möllendorf and the Schenker circle

Walter Dahms wrote to Schenker in November 1916 (OJ 10/1, [25]) notifying him of a demonstration that Möllendorf ("a very good friend of mine") was due to give to the Wiener Tonkünstler-Verein, which was presumably the lecture of January 20, 1917. (Schenker's diary for that date gives no indication that he attended.) .

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