Peter Mercer-Taylor

Peter Mercer-Taylor is Professor of Musicology at the University of Minnesota, holding a B.A. from Amherst College and M.A./Ph.D. from UC Berkeley. Previously taught humanities at Valparaiso University. His scholarship spans 19th-century American hymnody, German classical traditions (especially Felix Mendelssohn), and contemporary popular music.

Research specialties include:

• Felix Mendelssohn's life and works
• History of American popular music and culture
• Romantic-era German music (1750-1900)
• American hymnology and classical hymn adaptations

He leads the digital project AmericanClassicalHymns.com, featuring scores and recordings of pre-Civil War hymn tunes based on classical music.