James Wood's "Rogosanti" : Performed by Victor Caccese

Vic Firth presents Victor Caccese performing James Wood's "Rogosanti" for multiple percussion.

Percussionist VICTOR CACCESE was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, in 1989 and at age nine began studying piano. In high school he began to develop an interest in the art of percussion. In 2005 he started percussion lessons with Walter Rohrich at the Wilmington Music School. His percussion training led him to audition for admittance to The Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University in 2007.

Mr. Caccese holds an intense love for chamber music and has even attended the So Percussion Summer Institute for three consecutive years. He was also accepted into the Norfolk New Music Workshop as part of the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival in Connecticut. In the summer of 2011, during the So Percussion Institute, Mr. Caccese worked closely with electronic artist Dan Deacon on the world premiere of his piece "Purse Hurdler" performed at Le Poisson Rouge in New York City. In 2010 he performed James Wood's "Village Burial with Fire" at The Percussive Arts Convention as a finalist in the PASIC chamber music competition.

Mr. Caccese has played in master classes for Chen Zimbalista, Alan Abel, former percussionist for the Philadelphia Orchestra, Tom Freer, of the Cleveland Orchestra, Svet Stoyanov, percussion chamber group So Percussion and marimba virtuoso Robert Van Sice. He graduated with his bachelor's degree from The Peabody Conservatory in the Spring of 2011 and was a faculty member for the Peabody Preparatory program during his senior year. Mr. Caccese is currently pursuing his Master's degree from the Yale School of Music under the tutelage of Robert van Sice.


About the piece:
In most early civilizations percussion instruments were (and to a certain extent still are) considered sacred, and to possess the power of magic. In Sri Lanka the Kandyan Drum is used in religious rituals and is considered to possess healing powers. In Java and other parts of South East Asia and China the gong has been credited with healing sickness, expelling evil spirits and defending against ghosts. It is even said that bathing from a gong gives health, and to be touched by a gong strengthens the soul and creates strength and happiness.

Rogosanti is the Sanscrit word for 'healing' or 'quietening of disease'. Here the evil spirit is represented by a rhythmic cell from Northern India called Ata Trisra (3.3.2.2) and is associated with the drums and wooden instruments - the good spirit by a cell from Southern India called Dhamar tala (5.2.3.4) and is associated with the metal instruments. If healing is to be achieved, the evil spirit must become possessed by the good spirit.

Rogosanti was written in November 1986 for my good friend, Steven Schick.  -JW

FOR MORE GREAT CHAMBER PERCUSSION PERFORMANCES, PLEASE VISIT: http://www.vicfirth.com