Sean Shibe: Forgotten Dances – Lute & Guitars
The guitarist guides us through three spaces within the Queen Elizabeth Hall in a journey through forgotten works for lute, classical guitar and electric guitar.
Each of the three miniature recitals which comprise this concert are made up of music that has been, in a sense, lost or forgotten.
Scottish lute manuscripts, held in various aristocratic houses before the union of crowns, refer to a time when the border between folk and classical music was much more porous than it is these days; this music has only come to light relatively recently.
Bach’s Cello Suites were, similarly, neglected until the 1900s. Thomas Adès’ unprecedented solo guitar work, Forgotten Dances, includes various kinds of dances Courantes and Berceuses for the guitar, or perhaps ‘remembers’ them.
The recital culminates in a newly commissioned piece which again questions what a ‘forgotten dance’ could be, this time on an undeniably contemporary instrument.
Young Artist Award 2018 winner and recipient of the 2022 Leonard Bernstein Award, Sean Shibe continues to prove himself a truly original mind at the frontier of contemporary classical music.
Shibe is a Southbank Centre Resident Artist for Classical Music: Autumn/Winter 2025/26.
Performers
Sean Shibe lute, guitar, electric guitar
Repertoire
Renaissance Lute:
MS Rowallen: Selection of Scottish lute manuscripts
Classical Guitar:
Bach: Prelude; Sarabande; Gigue from Suite No.1 in G for solo cello, BWV.1007
Thomas Adès: Forgotten dances
Electric Guitar:
Daniel Rothman: What bodies know arr. for electric guitar (World premiere of new arrangement)
Carola Bauckholt: divining rod for electric guitar (World premiere)
Alex Paxton: Carpig arr. for electric guitar (World premiere of new arrangement)
Need to know
Find out more about the music with our free programme.
View the programme
For your visit
This event is held at the Purcell Room Southbank Centre
The Purcell Room is located in the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
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The Purcell Room is an auditorium located within our Queen Elizabeth Hall.
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