The members of Selah Strings are Brenda Josephsen, first violinist and Suzuki violin instructor at Stephen F. Austin State University Music Preparatory Division; Ana Watts, second violinist/flutist; Alison Wier, violist; and Amanda Burns, cellist/oboist. If a substitute player is needed, we call upon fine students from SFASU. When a pianist is requested, we are privileged to include Beckie Compton, instructor of music at Angelina College in Lufkin. Our players have many years of experience in public performance in many venues.
The quartet offers several styles of music for your event, which may be played exclusively or a mix of styles: classical, oldies, pops, movie themes, Celtic fiddle, and hymns. We usually play a mix of classical, oldies and pops for receptions and parties. For smaller weddings, we have a string trio with a repertoire comparable to the quartet’s. For price and contact information, please go to the contact page.
“Selah” is a word used in the Bible that is probably either a liturgico-musical mark or an instruction on the reading of the text, something like “stop and listen”. The word is thought to be rendered from several Hebrew words meaning “to praise”, “to lift up” or “to pause”. From these words comes the belief that “selah” is a musical direction to the singers who performed the Psalms, which was the hymnbook of the Israelites. Each time “selah” appears in a psalm, the musicians paused, either to take a breath, or to let the instruments play alone. Perhaps they were pausing to praise God, about whom the song was speaking, perhaps even lifting their hands in worship. This would encompass all these meanings—praise, lift up, and pause. All the earth shall worship Thee, and shall sing unto Thee; they shall sing to Thy name. Selah. Psalm 66:4
The beautiful photograph on our home page was taken by Larry Ogden of New Jersey (ogdenphotographics.com).