Sean Shibe & Aidan O'Rourke: Lùban
Two acclaimed artists from two musical cultures fuse their styles, delving into the roots of classical and folk to create a new take that transcends tradition.
Award-winning classical guitarist Sean Shibe meets folk legend fiddler Aidan O’Rourke in a programme entitled Lùban – in Scottish Gaelic, ‘Loops’.
Creating a musical feast of mingled inspirations, the pair have sought the common ground within the origins of their contrasting musical heritages.
They have gone back to ancient manuscripts of traditional songs and commissioned new versions of familiar pieces such as Dowland’s ‘Flow, my Tears’ and traditional works like ‘The Queen of Ingland’s Pavan’.
And they bridge the centuries from the medieval religious music of Hildegard of Bingen to the avant-garde mysteries of John Cage, and on to O’Rourke’s own music, with Shibe moving from lute to electric guitar.
Together they find new routes along ancient paths.
Performers
Sean Shibe guitar, lute
Aidan O'Rourke violin
Repertoire
Traditional: Wapp at the window my lady (Old Scottish MS)
Anonymous: An example of tripla (Old Scottish MS)
Traditional: Pavan (Old Scottish MS) arr. Aidan O'Rourke & Sean Shibe for violin & guitar
Aidan O'Rourke: The room is in darkness; Rota Fortunae (Wheel of fortune) for lute & fiddle (World premiere)
Interval
Laurence Crane: Sparling
Dowland: Flow my tears (Lachrimae Pavane) (Old Scottish MS) arr. Aidan O'Rourke & Sean Shibe
Traditional: The Queen of Ingland's pavan (Old Scottish MS) arr. Aidan O'Rourke & Sean Shibe for violin & guitar; A lessone of descant (Old Scottish MS) arr. Aidan O'Rourke & Sean Shibe for violin & guitar
Hildegard of Bingen: O Ecclesia arr. Tom Coult
Cage: No.1; No.2 from 6 Melodies for violin & keyboard
Aidan O'Rourke: A fox and a hound
Fethy: The time of youth (Old Scottish MS) arr. Aidan O'Rourke & Sean Shibe for violin & guitar
Anonymous: Galliard (Old Scottish MS) arr. Aidan O'Rourke & Sean Shibe for violin & guitar
Traditional: State and ambition (Old Scottish MS) arr. Aidan O'Rourke & Sean Shibe for violin & guitar
Cage: No.5; No.6 from 6 Melodies for violin & keyboard
MS Rowallen: A Scots Tune
Need to know
Please note change of performance date from originally advertised.
Reviews
‘A duo full of promise’
The Herald
‘[Shibe] is just as special and compelling a performer on [the lute] as he is a guitarist, able to make something rich and strange out of the simplest melody’The Guardian
Times & tickets
Dates, times and prices
Dates & times
09 Jun 2027, 7pm
Run time
2 hours (approx)
All timings are approximate and subject to change
Standard entry
from £26
Ticket prices may be adjusted without notice to reflect demand.
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This event is held at the Purcell Room Southbank Centre
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