John Carollo ~ Composer

Biography
John was born in Torino, Italy and brought to the U.S. by his adoptive parents. When he was in grade school, studying classical piano and singing in the church choir, his musical friends were listening to English folk-rock music, mostly Fairport Convention and The Pentangle.
He moved to San Diego, CA from Oil City, PA, to attend college, taking courses in music and psychology. During this time, John took piano lessons and began composing his first piano works. He graduated from San Diego State University with a Masters Degree in Psychology.
Shortly after, he moved to Honolulu, began a full-time mental health career for the State of Hawaii and began taking private composition lessons with Dr. Robert Wehrman. John's first composition under Bob's tutelage was a piano suite in six parts. Following this effort, Robert encouraged John to compose an atonal work entitled Frenetic Unfoldings for Solo Violin. After completing this large work, John focused his energies on compositions which incorporated various instrumentation.
The composer writes poetry when time permits and has set many of his poems to music in his "Improvisations With Narrations".
Poetry
Jade Ponds (2001)
jade ponds filled with white lilies
reaching for the sky;
cool breezes whisper a melody
past tall timbers clipping the amber clouds
as they roll gently over the mountain side;
water trickles down serrated slopes
forming silver streams where falcons
gather to nest and feed their young;
the grassy knoll provided a great back support
where we witnessed beauty unfold slowly,
tumbling down, wrapped in arms embraced,
to view reflections off a whimsical Jade pond.
"Jade Ponds" by Satoshi (used by permission) Satoshi was inspired by the above poem and created this digital wonder.
Crafted Stardust (2002)
we are all crafted stardust,
floating on an island paradise,
sharing a common dream,
revealed in conversation
a day at a time;
reality is sculptured slowly,
with a chisel,
until a universal form becomes self-evident;
our individual realities
are golden bits of stardust,
strewn in fields of yellow streams,
upon a stage
where we perform
to an audience
clapping at each curtain close.
Little Gems (2002)
little gems
sparkle,
awaiting to be discovered,
as they shine
among
the bramble
and the brier
of our busy
lives;
we often
don’t see
the glow
of a jewel
as it merrily
lingers,
and when
discovery
occurs,
we are surprised
and often startled,
as the gleam
beckons you
to feel
its eternal
power
and
glory.
Metamorphosis No. 9 (2003)
I hear shifting patterns over time
as my ephemeral creation spins on an axis of creativity,
its form comes from a rich musical reservoir
of sparkling themes and motives;
as swift as rivers meandering through varied terrain,
my new auditory sensation screams with joy
as you become a sounding board,
absorbing sonic vibrations in a classical feast,
designed to lift your tattered spirits,
reborn with a fresh vitality for life,
you float to a new dimension
leaving behind your shell of burden
for a garden of possibilities and promises
Resonance (2002)
I want to raise my hands to the sky,
touch overcast clouds as they float by my window;
my fingers would create surrealistic forms
and my head would rest on cotton pillows;
as fantastic vistas shaped my dreams
into a universe of splendid rainbows;
You could join me only if you dream
of silk webs dangling from below the moon;
your radiant hair flowing in the cool breeze
of a spring day would fill the air with cosmic wonder;
and your charming spell would cast a thin net
around the globe as we listened to its dazzling resonance.
A Time Not Long Ago (2001)
There once was a time not long ago
when scented flowers hung from balconies,
swaying in cool breezes by the pool;
when friends drank a toast to things eternal,
sharing love and revealing dreams;
when reading a good book to your children
was the entertainment for the evening;
when marvelous insights into human nature
was what you got from movies;
when listening to music was a social event
and music making involved the entire family;
perhaps a time will come when gifts
such as these will return the simple things to life.
One Note at a Time (2001)
One note at a time will bring you to completeness,
one thought at a time is all it takes,
one word builds on another,
one flame to keep your eyes focused;
one world is what we have,
a large living organism,
which requires care and nourishment,
one lover to share your dreams,
one room where you can find solitude,
one vision to cling a hope to,
one star to cast a wish upon,
One dream to cast your constructs to the wind.
Surfing Life’s Vibrational Waves (2007)
composers surf life’s vibrational waves,
absorbing cultural currents as they pass by,
expressly stated in splendid marvels,
created spontaneously from droplets of ether,
changing expressions to match the newness of the moment.
Fragments (2003)
now that the music is over,
we can hear musical fragments,
trails of sound fluttering
in golden silence,
sonic memories breathing
life in our soul,
inspired harmony floating
in brief segments
over endless time.
A Joyful Return to Form (2001)
just as the sun’s rays filter through cumulus clouds
blue jays fly into the horizon in unison,
a joyful return to form
for graceful birds
in command of wind currents
which brush gently against their wings
providing lift
as they sail into a new landscape
for the artist
who waits patiently to paint
the perfect scene
among a field of crimson lilacs.
She Saw the Rainbow (2002)
after the storm,
she saw the rainbow,
appear in the northern sky,
transparent and luminous,
arched over the San Gabriel Range;
she heard the thunderous clamor
from miles away beckoning,
transfixed and mindful
of the elements of nature;
she savored the moment,
as the sun rose to greet the
attentive witness;
she sparkled with joy
having heard the glorious
vibrations from a dear friend.
At The End of the Day (2003)
the earth rests,..
invoking peace,
as if to set an example;
why do few notice?
birds sleep on branches still,
following the ritual set years ago,
by wise ancestors who closed their eyes,
to dream;
we unwind from cranky days,
unsettled worries and concerns
merge into the evening mist,
the sun sends rays of hope
to early morning travelers,
who need reassurance
that at the end of the day
something meaningful will have changed,
tomorrow’s outlook
and yesterday’s cloudy weather.
Music as a Passionate Affair (2008)
Music is a passionate affair,
with momentum,
seduction,
teasers,
and climaxes taking center stage.
As sexual beings,
we need the comfort of experimental play,
familiar beats,
and sonic vocalize,
to bring the passion play meaning,
as your essence takes a flight,
beyond this tormented existence,
to nebulous and undisturbed landscapes.
© 2001, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2008 JAC