Karl Merz (1836–1890) was born at Bensheim, Germany, and trained early in organ and violin under his father, a church organist and violinist. He became organist at age eleven and received further education at a seminary. He immigrated to the US in 1854 and was organist at the Sixth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. He taught in Lancaster and in several western Virginia towns before joining the faculty of Oxford Female College in Oxford, Ohio, where he taught for twenty-one years. He then became the first director of the music conservatory at the College of Wooster, Ohio, remaining there until his death. He was editor for Brainard’s Musical World and published several books including Music and Culture, a collection of his lectures. His many compositions include operettas, sacred pieces, songs, piano pieces, part songs, and a variety of pieces of various instrumentation.

All are mixed chorus unless noted; some contain divisi.