Gustav Merkel
Gustav Adolf Merkel (November 12, 1827, Oberoderwitz, Kingdom of Saxony – October 30, 1885, Dresden) was a German organist and composer. Having been given some lessons by Schumann in his youth, Merkel spent most of his career in Dresden, concentrating on organ-playing from 1858. A Lutheran himself, he nevertheless held an appointment at the Catholic Church of the Court of Saxony from 1864 until his death.
Also recorded as Gustav Adolf Merkel · Gustav (Adolf) Merkel
Gustav Merkel
- Name
- Gustav Merkel
- Born
- 12 November 1827
- Birthplace
- Oberoderwitz, Kingdom of Saxony
- Died
- 30 October 1885
- Place of death
- Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony
- Occupation
- Organist, composer
- Nationality
- Kingdom of Saxony.
- Teachers
- Ernst Julius Otto.
- Languages
- German.
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Documentary summary
Gustav Adolf Merkel (November 12, 1827, Oberoderwitz, Kingdom of Saxony – October 30, 1885, Dresden) was a German organist and composer. Having been given some lessons by Schumann in his youth, Merkel spent most of his career in Dresden, concentrating on organ-playing from 1858. A Lutheran himself, he nevertheless held an appointment at the Catholic Church of the Court of Saxony from 1864 until his death.
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Note VALÉORINE
Gustav Merkel (1827–1885) was a composer and a national of the Kingdom of Saxony. Born in Oderwitz, the composer died in Dresden. Languages used include German.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 27 September 2026
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Authority files
gnd · 1072955776 · wikidata · Q265473 · wikipedia · Gustav Merkel
In this article
Biography
Biography
During the same period he taught the organ at Dresden's Conservatory. His compositions include nine organ sonatas (which have been recorded several times, as well as occurring quite often in organ recitals), of which the first sonata (Op.30) is written for two organists, and several dozen miniatures (some of them based on Protestant chorale melodies). In these works, his style is broadly conservative, very much influenced by Mendelssohn, and with similarities to the output of his younger contemporary Josef Rheinberger. He also produced choral and piano pieces; his salon piece "Schmetterling" ("Butterfly"), Op. 4 is particularly well-known.
Key facts
Key facts
• Background — person • Name — Gustav Merkel • Born — 12 November 1827 • Birthplace — Oberoderwitz, Kingdom of Saxony • Died — 30 October 1885 • Place of death — Dresden, Kingdom of Saxony • Genre — Classical • Occupation — Organist, composer • Years Active — 1858–1885
Identity
Identity
Gustav Merkel is recorded as composer.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1885
Gustav Merkel died.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
Oderwitz.
Birth place
Dresden.
Death place
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Gustav Merkel”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q265473: Gustav Merkel
Reputable secondary · Wikidata
authority file
- Gemeinsame Normdatei 1072955776, Gustav Merkel (Königsberg).
Unverified · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Literature
Literature
Merkel, Gustav Adolf, Oxford Music Online, 2001
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
Bibliography printed in the source article · 2
- Paul Janssen, Gustav Merkel: Ein Bild seines Lebens und Wirkens (Leipzig, 1886).
- Magdalene Saal, Gustav Adolf Merkel: Leben und Orgelwerk (Frankfurt, 1993).
References
Citations
References
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authority file
Gemeinsame Normdatei 1072955776, Gustav Merkel (Königsberg).Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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