In 1689/90 he collaborated on a cycle of chorale cantatas with Leipzig theologian Benedict Carpzov.
[2] When his former teacher Sebastian Knüpfer died, Schelle succeeded him as Kantor of the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, a post later held by J.S.
His appointment was made against the wishes of the city mayor, who remained antagonistic to him and the changes he introduced in the musical content of services.
The matter came to a head when Schelle replaced the Latin compositions written by Italian masters with music to German texts, especially cantatas.
During his life the only work printed was Christus ist des Gesetzes Ende, Leipzig 1684.