Daniel Gottlob Türk (August 10 , 1750 – August 26, 1813)
Daniel Gottlob Türk (born August 10, 1750, Claussnitz, near Chemnitz, Germany – died August 26, 1813, Halle, Germany) was an eminent German organist, music theorist, pedagogue, and composer. He remains best known for his extensive and extremely detailed musical treatise, Klavierschule (1789), one of the most important sources for keyboard performance practice of the late 18th century. Türk wrote 18 sonatas, dances and minuets for the piano, which are still popular today.
BIOGRAPHY
Background
Daniel Gottlob Türk was born in Claussnitz into the family of Daniel Türcke who was an instrumentalist in the service of Count Schönburg.
Education
He received his first music lessons from his father and learnt several wind instruments with his father’s colleagues, and later studied with J.S. Bach pupil Gottfried August Homilius in Dresden. In 1772, Türk entered the University of Leipzig, and simultaneously studied with Johann Adam Hiller.
Career
In 1774, Türk settled in Halle, where he became Kantor at the Ulrichskirche and a teacher at the Lutheran Gymnasium. In 1779, he was named Director of Music at the University, where he taught theory and composition. In 1808, Türk was given an honorary doctorate at the University and that same year was promoted to professor of music there.
Works
Von den wichtigsten Pflichten eines Organisten (Leipzig u. Halle 1787, neue Ausgabe von Naue. 1838); Klavierschule oder Anweisung zum Klavierspielen für Lehrer und Lernende mit kritischen Anmerkungen (Leipzig und Halle 1789); Kurze Anweisung zum Generalbaßspielen (Leipzig 1791; 5. Aufl. von Naue, 1841); Anleitung zu Temperaturberechnungen (Leipzig 1806, 1808 gedruckt).
SHEET MUSIC
You can find and download free scores of the composer: