Short bio Gustav Merkel
Full biography Gustav Merkel
Gustav Merkel was a 19th-century German composer and organist born on November 12, 1827, in Oberoderwitz, Saxony. He studied at the Dresden Conservatory and began his career as a piano teacher. However, he is best known for his works for the organ, which reflect his deep knowledge of the instrument and its capabilities.
Merkel's compositions for the organ include several sets of preludes and fugues, as well as a series of fantasies, chorale preludes, and sonatas. His music is characterized by its lyrical melodies and skilled use of counterpoint and modulation. His works were enormously popular during his lifetime, and he was regarded as one of the leading composers for the organ of his time.
In addition to his work as a composer, Merkel was also a highly respected organist and held several prominent positions throughout his career. He served as the organist of Dresden Cathedral from 1864 to 1885, and later served as the director of the conservatory in Strasbourg.
Despite his considerable reputation during his lifetime, Merkel's music fell out of favor in the decades following his death. However, in recent years there has been a renewed interest in his works, and several recordings of his music have been released.
Overall, Gustav Merkel is remembered as a talented and influential composer and organist, whose legacy continues to be felt in the world of classical music today.
Compositions featuring Gustav Merkel
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Overture in C minor, for organ, Op 123 | 5:22 min | Keyboard | 1880 |
| 2 | Andacht (Worship), Op. 14 | 4:51 min | Vocal Music | 1870 |
| 3 | Organ Sonata No. 6 in E minor ("Chorale Sonata"), Op. 137 | 23:53 min | Keyboard | 187? |
| 4 | Variations on a theme of Beethoven, for organ, Op. 45 | 15:16 min | Keyboard | 1864 |
| 5 | Organ Sonata No. 2 in G minor, Op. 42 | 25:14 min | Keyboard | 1860 |
| 6 | Fantasia and fugue for organ in C major, Op. 5 | 12:26 min | Keyboard | 1853 |
| 7 | Organ Sonata No. 5 in D minor, Op. 118 | 15:04 min | Keyboard | - |
| 8 | Zehn Vor- und Nachspiele, Op.134 | 11:15 min | Keyboard | - |
| 9 | Organ Sonata No. 7 in A minor, Op. 140 | 17:22 min | Keyboard | - |
| 10 | Organ Sonata No. 8 in B minor, Op. 178 | 23:04 min | Keyboard | - |
| 11 | Organ Sonata No. 9 in C minor, Op. 183 | 16:20 min | Keyboard | - |
| 12 | Pastorale for organ No. 1 in G major, Op. 49 | 5:46 min | Keyboard | - |
| 13 | Postludium for organ, Op. 46/3 | 2:12 min | Keyboard | - |
| 14 | Prelude for organ, Op. 46/1 | 1:43 min | Keyboard | - |
| 15 | Preludes (20) for organ, Op. 160 | 1:53 min | Keyboard | - |
| 16 | Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele, chorale for organ | 4:23 min | Keyboard | - |
| 17 | Sonata for organ, 4-hands in D minor, Op. 30 | 16:55 min | Keyboard | - |
| 18 | Trios (4) for organ, Op.39 | 9:32 min | Keyboard | - |
| 19 | Triple Fugue for organ, Op. 46/2 | 2:28 min | Keyboard | - |
| 20 | Variations on a theme by Beethoven, for organ, Op. 43 | 16:27 min | Keyboard | - |
| 21 | Vorspiel zu Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir | 5:33 min | Keyboard | - |
| 22 | Weihnachts-Pastorale, for organ, Op. 56 | 5:32 min | Keyboard | - |
| 23 | Adagio for violin, Op. 51 | 7:04 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 24 | Fantasia and Fugue in C minor | 11:13 min | Keyboard | - |
| 25 | Adagio in E major, for organ, Op 35 | 7:59 min | Keyboard | - |
| 26 | Allegretto & Allegro for organ, Op. 117 | 5:48 min | Keyboard | - |
| 27 | Andacht for organ | 3:29 min | Keyboard | - |
| 28 | Andante for organ in A minor, Op. 122/2 | 4:44 min | Keyboard | - |
| 29 | Andantino for organ, Op. 46/4 | 1:13 min | Keyboard | - |
| 30 | Canon for organ in F sharp major, Op 39/3 | 2:54 min | Keyboard | - |
| 31 | Chorale prelude for organ | 4:16 min | Keyboard | - |
| 32 | Christmas March | 4:34 min | - | |
| 33 | Concertsaz for organ in E flat minor, Op. 141 | 8:06 min | Keyboard | - |
| 34 | Organ Sonata No. 4 in F minor, Op. 115 | 18:07 min | Keyboard | - |
| 35 | Fantasie and Fugue for organ, Op. 104 | 8:34 min | Keyboard | - |
| 36 | Fantasie for organ in D major, Op176 | 7:34 min | Keyboard | - |
| 37 | Fantasie for organ in D minor, Op 17 | 7:54 min | Keyboard | - |
| 38 | Fantasie for organ, No 4 in E minor, Op 133 | 6:10 min | Keyboard | - |
| 39 | Fugue on BACH, Op. 40 | 5:04 min | Keyboard | - |
| 40 | Grosse Choralvorspiele (3) for organ, Op. 32 | 10:51 min | Keyboard | - |
| 41 | Margreth am Tore, drinking song for men's chorus a cappella | 2:12 min | Choral | - |
| 42 | Organ Sonata No. 1 in D minor, Op. 30 | 16:57 min | Keyboard | - |
| 43 | Organ Sonata No. 3 in C minor, Op. 80 | 19:07 min | Keyboard | - |
Albums featuring Gustav Merkel
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Merkel, Carlo Guandalino – Organ Music(CD, Album) | 2017 | Brilliant Classics |
| 2 |  |
Gustav Merkel - Halgeir Schiager – Organ Works Vol. III(CD, ) | 2012 | Simax Classics |
| 3 |  |
Gustav Merkel - Halgeir Schiager – Organ Works Vol. IV(CD, ) | 2012 | Simax Classics |
| 4 |  |
Gustav Merkel - Halgeir Schiager – Organ Works Vol. I(CD, ) | 2009 | Simax Classics |
| 5 |  |
Gustav Merkel - Halgeir Schiager – Organ Works Vol. II(CD, ) | 2009 | Simax Classics |
| 6 |  |
Gustav Merkel, Adrian Partington – The Complete Organ Sonatas Of Gustav Merkel Vol.1(CD, Album, Stereo) | 1996 | Priory |
| 7 |  |
Gustav Adolf Merkel, Joh. Christoph Friedr. Bach, Samuel Wesley, Giovanni Gabrieli, Jean Adam Guilain, Jean Langlais − Elisabeth Sperer, Winfried Englhardt – Virtuose Orgelmusik Zu 4 Händen = Virtuoso Organ Music For Four Hands(CD, ) | 1991 | FSM (2) |
| 8 |  |
Elisabeth Sperer And Winfried Englhardt - Gustav Adolf Merkel, Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach, Samuel Wesley, Giovanni Gabrieli, Jean Adam Guilain, Jean Langlais – Virtuose Orgelmusik Zu 4 Händen = Virtuoso Organ Music For Four Hands(CD, Album, Stereo) | 1987 | Pantheon (7) |
| 9 |  |
Rossini • Bizet • Suppé • Merkel, Timporg Trio, Markus Kühnis • Wolfgang Sieber • Christoph Kobelt – Die Phantastische Orgel | 1986 | PAN Verlag Vleugels |
| 10 |  |
Gustav Adolf Merkel, Joh. Christoph Friedr. Bach, Samuel Wesley, Giovanni Gabrieli, Jean Adam Guilain, Jean Langlais − Elisabeth Sperer, Winfried Englhardt – Virtuose Orgelmusik Zu 4 Händen(LP, Stereo) | 1982 | FSM (2) |
| 11 |  |
Pachelbel, Joh. Chr. Bach, M. Müller, A. Hesse, Giussani, Lidon, Piazza, G.A.Merkel, Imelda Blöchliger, Hans Vollenweider – Seltene Orgel- & Cembalomusik Aus Der Klosterkirche Zu St.Peter Im Schwarzwald(LP, Album) | 1976 | Tudor |
| 12 |  |
Schubert / Lachner / Merkel / Hesse / Langlais - Marie-Louise Jaquet, Anne-Catherine Plasse – Musique Pour Deux Organistes(LP, Album) | 1976 | Lyrinx |
| 13 |  |
Bach, Liszt, Merkel, Bartmuß - Christine Kamp – Sauer Organ Hermannstaft Sibiu - Romania(CD, Album) | - | Festivo (2) |
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