Karl Merz

Karl Merz (September 10, 1834 – January 30, 1890) was an American composer, author, editor, and arranger of German descent. Biography Merz was born September 10, 1834, in Bensheim, near Frankfort-on-Main, Germany. . He received his early musical instruction from his father, a violinist and organist at the church in their hometown. But for the most part he is considered self-taught. By the age of eight or nine he was playing violin in a quartet club which met at the residence of Baron of Rodenstein. He is also known to have frequently played at “musical gatherings” at the castle of the baron of Rodenstein. At the age of eleven he had “assumed his father’s duties as organist” at the church. After returning to the North, around September 1861 he became a professor of music at Oxford Female College in Oxford, Ohio. He started his career as a musical writer in 1868 and made contributions to Brainard’s Musical World. He became known for his “musical hints.” As his popularity rose he was made assistant editor and in 1873 he became the sole editor. During his career he wrote a vast number of musical pieces consisting of operettas, sacred pieces, choruses, songs, piano solos, waltzes, dance