Episode 105 — April 20, 2021
Desvio Duo: “Folhagens” for percussion
Performed by Victor Caccese

Desvio Duo, comprising Brazilian percussionists Leonardo Gorosito and Rafael Alberto, and the percussionist Victor Caccese, have been making music together for quite some time. Caccese first met Gorosito of the Desvio Duo while they were studying at Yale, and later met Alberto. The two began their friendship while workshopping a new piece of music together; since, the three have performed music together in the United States and Brazil. Here, Cacesse presents one of the duo’s pieces, Folhagens, which features two pandeiros playing in interlocking rhythmic patterns.

Caccese has worked with Metropolis many times as both a soloist and with his group, Sandbox Percussion, who even performed a House Music series video almost exactly one year ago. This is Desvio Duo’s first introduction to the ensemble, though. Caccese loves their music, and wanted to play a piece he’s passionate about as a House Music series soloist, so he thought it would be fun to share their unique music, and to play music made by his friends. 

Folhagens, which translates to foliage, was initially written alongside a group of works inspired by nature. It swims through a variety of different traditional Brazilian rhythms, ending with the famed samba. Desvio Duo also likes to explore the possibilities of the pandeiro’s sound, inventing new ways to play the instrument. Folhagens features one of their inventions, which dampens the pandeiro’s natural jingles to make a rounder sound. Caccese is seen here performing each pandeiro part himself from the Sandbox Percussion studio in Brooklyn.

Notes by Vanessa Ague

 
House Music: Bite-sized concerts recorded at homes around the world

In 2020-21, we created a weekly video series featuring short-form concerts of newly-commissioned works, supporting 208 artists around the world during the pandemic.