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Born: March 23, 1599 - Zörbig, Saxony, Germany
Died: July 2, 1663 - Hamburg, Germany |
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The German composer, Thomas Selle, was possibly a pupil of Sethus Calvisius and Johann Hermann Schein at the Thomasschule and at the University in Leipzig. He held various teaching posts before becoming a Kantor: first rector at Wesselburen; in 1624 at Heide; in 1625 at Wesselburen-Itzehoe. In 1634 he became Kantor at Itzehoe; in 1637 Kantor at Johanneum, Hamburg; and in 1641 town Kantor, minor canon and musical director at Hamburg Cathedral (organist at the Hauptkirche).
Thomas Selle composed nearly 300 motets, some old-fashioned and polyphonic, some making effective use of poly-choral techniques, and some tending towards the concertato style. His St John Passion of 1643 is the earliest example of an 'Oratorio Passion.' He also composed a large number of concerts, madrigals, sacred and secular songs, including a number of settings of poems by Johann Rist, the various books bearing the long florid titles customary at that time. His secular songs show the transition from polyphonic to monodic style. |
