Classical Californians: Derrick Skye

Derrick Skye

This week our Classical Californian is LA-based composer, conductor and performer Derrick Skye. He has a lineup of works for us that are both meditative and thought-provoking. We’ll hear a selection from Hildegard von Bingen, solo works for viola and guitar, a piece for cello and string quartet that's inspired by traditional Indian classical music, and a piece for orchestra and soprano that Skye wrote as a companion piece to Brahms’ German Requiem.

He starts with Hildegard von Bingen's "O Viridissima Virga"...

Then, a work by Canadian composer Ann Southam, called Re-Tuning, which features solo viola (played by Rivka Golani) and electronics.

Cellist and composer Chris Votek was inspired by traditions of Classical Indian music for his piece Chamber Thumri in Raga Kafi heard here with him as the soloist, accompanied by musicians from Bridge to Everywhere.

Up next is the piece for solo guitar by composer and guitarist Philip Graulty called Amboy.

And here's a work that Derrick Skye was commissioned to write, called A Rage of Peace, featuring musicians from Bridge to Everywhere and soprano Jasmine Habersham.

And some final thoughts...