German composer. Selle was possibly a pupil of Calvisius and Schein at Leipzig; he held various teaching posts before becoming cantor at the Johanneum and organist at the Hauptkirche in Hamburg in 1641. He composed nearly 300 motets, some old-fashioned and polyphonic, some making effective use of polychoral techniques, and some tending towards the concertato style. His St John Passion of 1643 is the earliest example of an 'Oratorio Passion.' His secular songs show the transition from polyphonic to monodic style.