As a student of Menon and Donato, Merulo quickly came to a position as organist of Brescia Cathedral at the age of twenty three. Between 1557 and 1584 he was not only the organist for St Mark's Cathedral in Venice but he was also an organ consultant, publisher and teacher. After that he served in Parma and for the Steccata company. Merulo was famous for his organ playing virtuosity having developed a disinctive style of ricercare and tocatta. He composed over ten volumes for the organ as well as sacred masses, motets, magnificats, and secular madrigals. Extant compositions by Merulo include nine volumes of the sacred vocal music and four volumes of the secular madrigals. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi