Merkel was a world famous organist and composer of organ music that spread from Germany, through England to the United States. His compositions were clearly written with didactic intentions and contain a flare for pedal technique and the continuation of the Bach tradition. Pedal scores were oten composed by Merkel to yield the cantus firmus of a piece and at times required pedalling with both feet. He had become a teacher in Dresden after studying at Bautzen teacher's college. While in Dresden he taught piano and studied organ with Schnieider and composition with Schumann and Reissiger. From 1858 until 1885 he was employed in Dresden as an organist for the orphanage church, Kreuzkirche, Catholic court church and Merkel also taught at the Dresden Conservatory. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi