Grove's dictionary of music and musicians

'
SEISS SEMBEICH 409
SEISS, IsiDOR WlLHBLM, born at Dresden,
Dec. 23, 1840, was at first a pupil of F. Wieek
for piano and of Julius Otto for theory. In 1 8 5 8 -
1860 he studied at Leipzig under Hauptmann.
He had a success as a pianist in the following
year, and issued several compositions. In 1871
he was appointed a piano-teacher at the Cologne
Conservatorium, and in 1878 received the title
of professor. He has had a long and successful
career there, where he devotes much time
to conducting the Musikalische Gesellschaft.
His compositions, chiefly educational works for
the piano, are tasteful and of high aim ; his
clever an-angement of Beethoven's 'Contredanses
and Danses ' alleraandes ' are among
'
his most famous productions, as well as a revised
vereion of Weber's E fiat concerto. A
'
Feierliche
Szene und Marsch ' are for orchestra. (Riemann's
Lexikon.) M.
SELBY, Bbrtkam Luard-, born at Ightham,
Kent, Feb. 12, 1863, received his musical
education at the Leipzig Conservatorium under
Eeinocke and Jadassohn. Became organist of
St. Barnabas, Marylebone, and Highgate School
in 1876, and gave chamber concerts in London
before his appointment to the post of organist
of Salisbury Cathedral in 1881, a. post lie retained
for two years. He was next organist
at St. John's, Torquay, in 1884, and of St.
Barnabas, Pimlico, in 1886. He was appointed
organist of Rochester Cathedral in succession to
Dr. John Hopkins, in 1900. His most important
works are incidental music to Helena in Troas,
'
performed in London, May 1886, and Weather
'
or No,' a musical duologue, produced at the
Savoy Theatre in August 1896. An orchestral
' Idyll ' was played at one of Henschol's London
Symphony Concerts on March 11, 1897. This,
two quintets for piano and strings, a suite for
violin and piano, many piano pieces, and an
opera 'The Ring' (1886), remain unpublished.
The list of printed works includes ' 'The Waits
of Bremen,' 'The Dying Swan,' 'Summer by
the Sea,' short cantatas, part-songs, The ' Hag,'
'
Itwas aLover and his Lass,' trios, etc., for female
voices, a violin sonata in B minor, some sixteen
anthems, ten services, and very numerous
organ pieces and some songs, all of which show
great taste and refinement of treatment. M.
SELLINGER'S ROUND, a 16th-oentury tune
and round dance, of unknown authorship, which
had immense popularity during the 16th and
17th centuries. The original form of the title
was doubtless ' St. Leger's Round. ' The delightful
vigour and unusual character of the air
are felt to-day, when played before a modern
audience, as fully as in its own period. It is
frequently referred to in 16th- and 17th-century
literature, including Bacchus Bountic, 1593 ;
Morley's Plaine and Basic Introduction, 1597,
and elsewhere. In some cases the sub-title ' or
the Beginning of the World ' is found added to
it, and this is partly explained in a comedy
named ' Lingua,' 1607. An excellent version of
the tune, arranged with variations by William
Byrd, is found in ' The Fitzwilliam ' Virginal
Book,' and other copies of the air are in Lady
Neville's Vu-ginal Book and William Ballet's
Lute-book.
Printed copies, which differ considerably,
and are not so good as those referred to, appear
in some of the Playford publications, including
early editions of 'The Dancing Master, "Musick's
Handmaid,' and 'Musiok's delight on the Cithren.'
The original dance has probably been a
May-pole one, and this is borne out by a rude
wood-cut on the title-page of a 17th-century
'Garland,' where figures are depicted dancing
round a may-pole, and Hey for Sellinger's
'
Round ' inscribed above them.
The following is the air, without the variations
and harmony, in the Fitzwilliam Book.
ee;^r.
Sellengcr's Bound.
From 2'Ae Fitzwilliam Virginal Boole.
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SELNECCER, or SELENECCER, NiKO-
LAUS, born Dec. 6, 1628, at Hersbruck near
Nuremberg, was organist of the Burgkapelle
in that city, at the age of twelve, and studied
at Wittenberg from 1549. From 1557 to 1561
he was court preacher and tutor in Dresden,
and subsequently held professional posts in
Jena (1561-68), Leipzig (1568-70), Wolfenbiittel
(1570-74), Leipzig again (1574-88). In the
latter year he was deprived of his offices and
became Superintendent at Hildesheim, until at
tlie death of the Elector Christian of Saxony he
was reinstated. He was an eminent theologian,
and wrote the words and music of many hymns ;
his great work in this direction was published
at Leipzig in 1587, under the title 'Christliche
Psalmen, Lieder, vnd Kirchengesenge,' set for
four voices, Selneccer's own compositions being
marked with his initials. Specimens of his
music are given in several of the hymn-books of
the 17th century. (fiuellen-Lcxikon.) m.
SEMBRICH, Marzella (original name
Praxede Marcelline Koohanska), born Feb. 15,
1868, at Wisniewczyk, Galicia, the daughter
of a musician, Kasimir Kochanski, Sembrich
being her mother's maiden name. She was
taught music by her father, and played in
public both piano and violin at the age of
2d