Merkel, Gustav Adolf 11/12/1827 - 10/30/1885

Gustav Adolf Merkel (born on November 12th, 1827 in Oberoderwitz bei Zittau – died on October 30th, 1885 in Dresden) was a German music educator and composer. His organ compositions were frequently performed in the 19th century.



Merkel, whose father was a teacher and organist, received an education in counterpoint and organ technique from Ernst Julius Otto and Johann Schneider. He taught at a school in Dresden for several years and was the organist at Waisenhauskirche and Kreuzkirche churches before becoming the court organist of the Catholic Hofkirche in Dresden in 1864. From 1867 to 1873 he was the director of the Dreißigschen Singakademie and, after 1861, a teacher at the Royal Music Conservatory. Merkel made a name for himself as a virtuoso organist and composer. He taught Hugo Richard Jüngst, who went on to become a composer and director of the Dresden choir.



On December 12th, 1857, he was accepted into the “Zum goldenen Apfel” lodge and became master of the lodge in March 1866.