Claudio Merulo, whose real name was Merlotti (08/04/1533 - 04/05/1604), was born in Correggio nearby Modena. Merulo served briefly as organist of the Cathedral at Brescia. After that Merulo became a post as second organist at St. Mark’s Venice, in 1557. In 1566 Merulo was appointed as first organist, in succeeding Annibale Padovano (1527-1575). At that time Andrea Gabrieli (1520-1586) was appointed second organist at St. Mark’s. In 1586 Merulo entered tot the service of the Duke of Parma and became organist in the Cathedral the following year and returned to the ducal service as organist in 1591. Merulo was also active as a publisher of music in Venice. Merulo could be considered as an organ builder and of course as an organ player. Most of his works were published posthumously. Merulo should rank with the great Venetian masters of sacred vocal polyphony and he does. There are some masses in the famous Venetian polychoral (Coro Spezzati) manner, as well as some motets. Seven volumes with sacred music – motets, cantiones and masses are published, ( i.a. 1573, 1578, 1583, 1584, 1983, 1594 and 1609). His four volumes of madrigals (published 1566-1604) are written within the normal style of the period. But famous are Merulo’s several books with Toccate d’Intavolatura d’Organo. Claudio Merulo was particularly important in the evolution of an independent style in organ composition, and he made significant contributions to the development of the keyboard toccata as we mentioned before.