"Schmetterling" or "Butterfly" by Gustav Merkel, Barbara Keiser Hopkins, pianist

Gustav Merkel (1827-1885) was a German organist and composer who studied composition and piano with Robert Schumann briefly in his youth but spent most of his career as a church organist in Dresden, Germany. Merkel’s musical style was much influenced by Felix Mendelssohn. Merkel wrote primarily for the organ but also produced choral and piano works. One of his most well-known pieces for piano is “Schmetterling” or “Butterfly.”