Haflidi Hallgrimsson’s Jacob’s Ladder

Sean Shibe is a young guitarist with angels at his fingertips

While the Fringe’s reputation as a hotbed of new talent generally leans towards its hundreds of budding thespians, young musicians make an important contribution too. One such is 16-year-old classical guitarist Sean Shibe, who gives the first performance of a revised version of Icelandic composer Haflidi Hallgrimsson’s Jacob’s Ladder.

Taking the painting of the same name by Marc Chagall as its starting point, the five-movement piece, described by the composer as ‘very difficult to play’, is about the Old Testament story of Jacob’s dream. In it, a ladder stretches up from earth to heaven. ‘In the piece,’ says Shibe, ‘the ladder is represented by the frets on the guitar and my fingers are the angels going up and down it.’

With a place at the RSAMD under his belt and a performing career in mind, it seems that Shibe is already climbing a musical ladder of his own.

St Mark’s artSpace, 228 1155, 7, 8 and 13 Aug, 5.15pm, £8 (£6).

More: Music, Previews (Music), Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Edinburgh Festivals, Fringe, Guitar, Haflidi Hallgrimsson’s Jacob’s Ladder, Sean Shibe

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