Born in Claußnitz, Saxony, Türk studied organ under his father and later under Johann Adam Hiller.

[2] While at Halle, Türk published his treatise On the Role of the Organist in Worship which is still occasionally reprinted.

His most notable contribution to the classical music canon is the Klavierschule, a teaching method for the keyboard.

He was a member of the Halle Masonic Lodge, "Zu den drei Degen" ("at the sign of the three daggers"), along with his pupil Carl Loewe.

Türk was a gifted teacher in his own right, with students such as Hermann Uber, Karl Traugott Zeuner, Johann Friedrich Nauer and Carl Loewe.