So Hot Right Now — First Creatures

Derrick Skye is

So Hot Right Now

Derrick Skye is a Los Angeles-based composer, conductor and musician known for his transcultural approach to music, integrating various musical practices from different cultures around the world into his work. The Los Angeles Times has described his music as “something to savor” and “enormous fun to listen to,” while The Times (London) has praised Skye’s music as “deliciously head-spinning.” Skye is an American who has Ghanaian, Nigerian, British, and Irish ancestry.

Learn more about Derrick Skye here.

The Program

Rosette will perform the music of Derrick Skye SIX times in SIX different venues during the month of November. Each event will feature the same selections of Derrick Skye’s music and will last approximately one hour.

The program begins with a string quintet called “As I Heard When I Was Young” (for which Rosette will be joined by double bassist Ayça Kartari), a piece that weaves Skye’s childhood experiences with black American gospel blues music together with his current fascination with music from cultures around the world. It incorporates melodic elements from Malian blues guitar music, Dagomba flute music of Northern Ghana, and the flute and percussion music of the Haha tribe of Morocco.

Rosette will also perform “American Mirror”, a two-part composition for string quartet which reflects on the coming together of cultures in our society. “American Mirror” contains influences from West African, North African, Eastern European, Appalachian, Hindustani, and Carnatic musical traditions.

“American Mirror” reflects on the coming together of cultures in our society, which consists of many generations and descendants of refugees, immigrants, and slaves, and how intercultural collaborations are essential to the well-being of American society. Melodically, the piece draws from West African, North African, and Eastern European vocal techniques and ornamentations, in addition to modal scales. Underneath these melodies, American Mirror uses open harmonies commonly found in Appalachian folk music.

Series Info

Saturday, Nov. 1 at 3pm

Plan 9 Music (3017 W. Cary St.)

FREE

Sponsored by Plan 9 Music and Martin Gary & Joan Gaustad

Tuesday, Nov. 11

Pop-up concert

FREE

Sponsored by The Elmwood Fund

Wednesday, Nov. 19 at 7pm

Artspace (2833-A Hathaway Rd.)

$18 adv; $20 at the door

Sponsored by Michael and Nancy Lott

GET TICKETS

Friday, Nov. 21 at 7pm

House Concert in Glen Allen

(address provided after ticket purchase)

$50

Sponsored by Tapabrata & Chiru Pal, Matt Edwards, and Marina & José Andueza

GET TICKETS

Saturday, Nov. 22 at 7pm

Gramophone Winery (4827 Forest Hill Ave.)

FREE

Sponsored by Threshold Counsel, Gabriella & Raymond Ryan, William Freeman & Janet Scagnelli, and Kerry Mills & Pippin Barnett

Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 7pm

St. John’s Church Parish Hall (2401 E. Broad St.)

FREE

Sponsored by St. John’s Church, Crawley Joyner, and William Richter & Ryland Potter

Sunday, Nov. 30 at 7pm

online

Toast to Derrick! Join the musicians for an online discussion with the composer himself. We will all have an opportunity to tell him what we like about his music, ask him questions, and raise a glass to him.

Everyone who donates (any amount!) to our fundraising campaign will receive an invitation.

Support So Hot Right Now

In order to fund this series, we need to raise $3400 by November 30th. Because more than half of these performances are free and open to the public, we rely on donations to keep this series going. Your support allows us to bring fresh, exciting music to Richmonders, making it affordable, accessible, and fun.

Our online fundraising campaign includes lots of cool perks, such as:

a Derrick Skye fridge magnet
a square flyer, signed by the musicians
an invitation to the Toast to Derrick on Nov. 30th
reserved seating at one of our concerts
tickets to the next Composer Reveal Party
a full-size, framed series poster, signed by the musicians
recognition as a So Hot donor!

Donate

So Hot donors

Daniel Song

So Hot Right Now is an innovative concert series curated and presented by Rosette, a string quartet based in Richmond, VA. The series highlights the music of one very hot, very alive composer by performing their music multiple times in a variety of venues over the course of one month.

More about Rosette

Formed in 2015, Rosette is a Richmond-based string quartet made up of four women who love to make meaningful connections through music. In addition to the So Hot Right Now series, Rosette performs educational programs in schools, collaborates with Miramar, and gives concerts throughout Virginia.

Rosette is: