Karl Merz

Karl Merz (September 10, 1834 – January 30, 1890) was an American composer, author, editor, and arranger of German descent. Born in Bensheim, Germany, he received early musical training from his father, a violinist and organist. By age eleven, he had taken over his father's role as organist at their hometown church. After educating at a seminary, Merz moved to the United States in 1854 following an invitation from a Philadelphian. Initially struggling with English, Merz found work as a musician and organist. By 1856, he was teaching at a Pennsylvania seminary. During the Civil War era, he taught in the South before returning north to become a music professor at Oxford Female College in Ohio by September 1861. Merz began his career as a musical writer in 1868, contributing to *Brainard's Musical World*. His popularity grew, and he became assistant editor before assuming sole editorial responsibilities. In 1882, he moved to Wooster, Ohio, where he founded the musical department at Wooster University. A prolific composer, Merz wrote operettas, sacred pieces, songs, piano solos, waltzes, and other works. Notable compositions included *Last Will and Testament* (1877), *Katie Dean* (1877), and *Music and Culture* (1890). His *Modern Method for the Parlor Organ* and *Improved Modern Method for the Parlor Organ* were influential instructional works. After his death, Merz's extensive musical library was purchased by music lovers and donated to the Carnegie Free Library of Pittsburgh. His legacy includes contributions to music education, composition, and amateur performance, as reflected in his writings ...