This site grew out of my personal interest in classical music from my own part of the country. Curiosity led me to seek examples of classical music roots in Utah, and to find a way to hear them for myself. The next logical step was to find a way to present them for anyone else who might share my musical whims.
The original music stashed on this web site is by me, Douglas Wood of Utah. (To avoid confusion, please note that there is another much more well known performer/composer with the same name. My apologies if you are mixing us up. You can see more about him at his web site.)
I have been in and around music for almost 50 years, playing in bands, orchestras and communty ensembles. For about 20 of those years I was also directly involved in concert and event production, including hands on experience doing “tech” for musicians of wildly different genres to help them put on quality shows.
So, while I was surrounded by music for decades, I only started writing original music a few years ago. Putting part of my own output on this site is mainly a way to help organize and archive my own pieces.
Software I use for music notation is usually “MuseScore.” It is a user friendly tool for automating and streamlining some of the technical aspects of composition, letting one see and hear the results along the way. For video editing my usual choice is “VSDC Video Editor,” which has a fairly steep learning curve but has the options I need. Both of those software offerings have free-to-use versions.
For “live” recordings of selected pieces, I have enjoyed using an online service which facilitates contact with freelance musicans and other creative artists who are willing to do small projects for hire. Fiverr.com has connected me with several very capable pianists, graphic artists, and other creators.
Why is the site named Yandro? I adore some of the writing of the late author Manly Wade Wellman, whose wide ranging body of work included frequent references to folk music, and to a mythical mountain he called “Yandro” in the hill country of the American southeast. The term Yandro has also appeared in other contexts and other countries around the world, but for me it is a reminder of the abiding power of the creative process to expand the human experience. Whether it is just for oneself, or is shared with others.
Contact? While this web site is still in the formative stages I can be reached through my personal Facebook page.