Claudio Merulo (1533-1604) was an Italian composer and organist. He was born in Correggio and first worked as an organist in Brescia (1556). The following year he was appointed second organist at St. Mark's in Venice and in 1566 rose to first organist as the successor of Annibale Padovano. From 1586 on he performed as court and cathedral organist in Parma.



He was valued by his contemporaries as one of the best organists of his time and is considered a pioneer of the toccata. His organ composition legacy consists of true instrumental compositions, far from the mere imitation of the vocal style.