Attention: Sydney-siders (need some info)

[brewtality]

Hello, I will be visiting your lovely city in the near future. While I am there, I am keen to indulge in my ‘vice’: buying classical cds. I know about HMV, Michael’s Music room etc, but since I am such a er, parsimonious fellow I was hoping to buy used cds. Are there any used cds stores that have a large selection of piano recordings? If there aren’t any, where is the best place to buy classical cds? This MMR sounds an awful lot like a store we have in Canberra, so I would expect the prices to be too high (I try to keep to a $10 per cd formula), also I’d prefer something in the city rather than out in the sticks as I am likely to get lost.

Btw, I’ve heard from my teacher that there is a really good sheet music store, she mentioned the suburb but I can’t remember. Do you guys know of any good sheet music stores? (preferably in the city) and how about a good piano dealership? I’m looking for something in the price range of a C7 yammy.

Cheers,

Brew

[ada]

That'll be Da Capo music on Glebe Point Road, Glebe.


It stocks the most amazing array of second hand and antique music books, scores and sheetmusic. And so cheap!

You can get lost there for hours. In fact if you go there you'll probably find me!

If there's a better shop in Sydney, I'd like to know!

You can also go to Allens in Pitt Street in the CBD, but all the music is new and pricey. But you can always pretend you're buying a grand piano and have a bash on the display ones downstairs.

Hope you have a good time here

[ada]

oh oh and ..... if you're looking to buy a piano I just got a flyer from PianoForte in Chatswood. They were having an end of financial year sale but you may have missed the boat.

Chatswood is a bit out in the sticksy though.

[brewtality]

That'll be Da Capo music on Glebe Point Road, Glebe.


It stocks the most amazing array of second hand and antique music books, scores and sheetmusic. And so cheap!

You can get lost there for hours. In fact if you go there you'll probably find me!

If there's a better shop in Sydney, I'd like to know!

You can also go to Allens in Pitt Street in the CBD, but all the music is new and pricey. But you can always pretend you're buying a grand piano and have a bash on the display ones downstairs.

Hope you have a good time here

Thanks for your reply ada.

 Yes, Da Capo that's the one! I had completely spaced on the name too. Hmm not sure I know where Glebe is, I'll just ask one of my cousins to take me. Is Allens just a piano dealership or has sheet music too?

oh oh and ..... if you're looking to buy a piano I just got a flyer from PianoForte in Chatswood. They were having an end of financial year sale but you may have missed the boat.

Chatswood is a bit out in the sticksy though

Well, it probably doesn't matter so much since I could just ask a relative to take me. End of financial year is too late since I'm only going in July, it's too soon to buy a piano anyway. I just wanted to play around on some and see if they are better than the ones here.

How about the used cd stores? here we only have stores that mainly sell used video games maybe with 3 classical cds. I was hoping that Sydney would be able to provide more.

It's really sad, but I am looking forward to visiting, I probably only come maybe twice a year. Sydney is a rather exciting place for a Canberran, with all your Spaghetti junctions, dirt pyramids, ridiculous cover charges, tollways and what not.

[Tash]

there's also  zephyrs in crows nest (for lots of sheet music), which you can walk to from st leonards station, so not quite in the city but it's like a 10 minute train trip from wynyard. hmmm da capo haven't heard of that one must check it out.
i have no idea about used cd stores, let me yellowpage it...ok maybe berkelouw books at leichardt- they're mainly books but apparently do 2nd hand cd's as well.

then there's 'the music shop' in bondi, it has classical, but i'm not sure if they're 2nd hand or not. https://www.musicshop.com.au/

there's like 50 million shops popping up on yellowpages, doesn't say if they're 2nd hand, and most are popular music based anyway...hope that helps!

[brewtality]

there's also  zephyrs in crows nest (for lots of sheet music), which you can walk to from st leonards station, so not quite in the city but it's like a 10 minute train trip from wynyard. hmmm da capo haven't heard of that one must check it out.
i have no idea about used cd stores, let me yellowpage it...ok maybe berkelouw books at leichardt- they're mainly books but apparently do 2nd hand cd's as well.

then there's 'the music shop' in bondi, it has classical, but i'm not sure if they're 2nd hand or not. https://www.musicshop.com.au/

there's like 50 million shops popping up on yellowpages, doesn't say if they're 2nd hand, and most are popular music based anyway...hope that helps!

thanks Tash. I might check out some of the places you mentioned. The music shop is mainly pop cds and iirc doesn't have second hand, I might just go there anyway since I haven't been to bondi in ages. I guess that maybe there aren't any specialist used cd stores in Syd. Oh well.

[ada]

Glebe is inner city/ inner inner west. It's near Sydney Uni just a short walk up Broadway from Central, turn left into Glebe Point Road. I think Da Capo is 211 or something like that.

Tash, you've got to check it out!

Yeah Allens sells sheet music, all the AMEB stuff and essential rep, but it's pricey and you won't find the gems you can get at Da Capo, plus it's a much better atmoshpere.

[ada]

Glebe is inner city/ inner inner west. It's near Sydney Uni just a short walk up Broadway from Central, turn left into Glebe Point Road. I think Da Capo is 211 or something like that.

whoops that'll be turn RIGHT  into Glebe Point Rd off Broadway heading west to Parramatta. What a girl, can't tell my left from right

[stevie]

theres also this thing called the internet, new-fangled and all, but you can download music on it!

havent bought a cd/dvd in ages

[ada]

Hey Stevie call me a luddite but nothing beats browsing in an old bookshop.

[brewtality]

theres also this thing called the internet, new-fangled and all, but you can download music on it!

havent bought a cd/dvd in ages

Well, you should know how good I am with technology! 
But seriously, I really like buying cds, not just having thousands of mp3s. It isn't the same. The only things I really dload are the rare recordings and vids. Also since the pianists I like tend to be on 'boutique' re-issue labels, it is harsh on them to download their stuff.

[Tash]

yeah buying stuff is cool. silly sydney, doesn't have anything useful! the one thing i do like about allens is that it gives students discounts, except the dude in the percussion area is a psycho (he randomly asked me why all lesbians go to unsw, i was like what, i think you mean the cofa campus, but why are you asking me that??!!)

[stevie]

buying stuff is cool?!

sure i like the feeling of something physical, but its money i just dont have! 

[galonia]

Hey, brewtality, you come from Canberra don't you?

Can you tell me why, all these houses in Canberra have huge numbers of bedrooms, but only one bathroom.  E.g. there are houses with three bedrooms, and garaging for 4 cars, but only one bathroom.  If you had so many people living in such a place, wouldn't the morning rush before going to work be a bit of a nightmare???

I'm asking coz I'm moving to Canberra next year, and just been looking at the housing situation there.

[brewtality]

Hey, brewtality, you come from Canberra don't you?

Can you tell me why, all these houses in Canberra have huge numbers of bedrooms, but only one bathroom.  E.g. there are houses with three bedrooms, and garaging for 4 cars, but only one bathroom.  If you had so many people living in such a place, wouldn't the morning rush before going to work be a bit of a nightmare???

I'm asking coz I'm moving to Canberra next year, and just been looking at the housing situation there.

Wikid, more converts. I think I remember DMK saying she was moving to Canberra too.
Um, I hadn't heard of the 1 bathroom thing, which suburbs were you looking at?
I agree it would be a royal pain, at my house we have 5 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. Since there's only 4 of us at home mostly, my sister and I get a bathroom each. Are you thinking of renting? I think the renting prices are rather high here.

[galonia]

I don't think the word "convert" is quite correct - perhaps you should use the word "conscript" - moving to Canberra because of work, if I stay in Sydney, I get to wait a million years for career progression, but the minute I arrive in Canberra, I'm promoted.

Anyway, I'll probably live in the Belconnen area - looking at some of those really far-flung places such as Holt, Hawker, Flynn, etc.  Is this a safe area?  Any high-crime areas I should be aware of?

I agree renting is really expensive in Canberra - it's comparable to Sydney rents!  So I was actually thinking of buying, since my mortgage repayments would only be slightly higher than the rent I'd have to pay... no decision yet, though.

[brewtality]

I don't think the word "convert" is quite correct - perhaps you should use the word "conscript" - moving to Canberra because of work, if I stay in Sydney, I get to wait a million years for career progression, but the minute I arrive in Canberra, I'm promoted.

Oh not another Canberra basher. I can understand people joking about canberra being a bit quiet but really it is not a bad place at all! In fact if you consider things like crime rate, traffic and pollution to be important, one might argue that it is better than Sydney!

Anyway, I'll probably live in the Belconnen area - looking at some of those really far-flung places such as Holt, Hawker, Flynn, etc.  Is this a safe area?  Any high-crime areas I should be aware of?

To be honest, I rarely go that far north. I guess safety is a relative thing. Let's put it this way, the worst parts in Canberra are probably nothing compared to Sydney. The most unsafe areas are those near government housing (which is easy to spot since they are generally the most drab houses/flats around).

[galonia]

Sorry, brewtality, I didn't mean to come across as Canberra-bashing.  I understand you love your home town, but I love mine, too, and I'm not all that pleased I have to move away.

Of course, I could change jobs and stay in Sydney (have considered that, and even been made several job offers here) but when you have the working conditions I have, you'd also rather move cities... the good thing about Canberra is it's only a few hours drive away, so I can always come home easily.

[brewtality]

Sorry, brewtality, I didn't mean to come across as Canberra-bashing.  I understand you love your home town, but I love mine, too, and I'm not all that pleased I have to move away.

Of course, I could change jobs and stay in Sydney (have considered that, and even been made several job offers here) but when you have the working conditions I have, you'd also rather move cities... the good thing about Canberra is it's only a few hours drive away, so I can always come home easily.

Hey no worries, it was mock indignation anyway.
Btw, am leaving tomorrow, I'm hoping to find some good stuff and hopefully won't get terribly lost.

[galonia]

Well, enjoy Sydney - at least our weather is a bit warmer than yours right now!  But not warm enough to go to the beach unless you're wearing thermals under your wetsuit... 

[Tash]

man how cold was it yesterday- or at least it was in my house! i had the heater blasting away again it was seriously warm in my room, and then i'd go out to get food and it was like walking into a freezer!

yeah enjoy syd, at least we've got some nice clear blue skies which looks enticing

[e60m5]

Sydney is great. Brew, when are you there? I'm here until August 5th.

[Waldszenen]

Sydney is bloody freezing at the moment... and freezing for me is like only 15 degrees Celsius.

[Tash]

yeah i swear it's like 5 degrees right now my hands are seriously frozen (work heater dammit!) and will be venturing into the cold soon...where are my gloves!

[brewtality]

Sydney is great. Brew, when are you there? I'm here until August 5th.

I'm actually staying on the central coast, up near avoca beach but have been coming in to Sydney most everyday. I'll be here until the 17th of July, gotta go to my cousin's wedding (I'm expecting something out of monsoon wedding  ).

Posting this from a random internet cafe, I went to Da Capo yesterday. Thanks for the directions ada, got there without a trouble. I was a bit disappointed by the selection. I had hoped to maybe find a Cortot or Friedman edition but all they had were old peters editions that were practically falling apart. I picked up a book of Mendelssohn's letters and one of Berlioz's.

I also went to Michael's Music Room. It was as I expected, like Abels in Canberra but a bit smaller. They had alot of great stuff but it was all too expensive. My formula was shot to pieces as everything was $30 +. I ended up getting 3 ginsburg cds, Gilels rach 3 and Barere Rach 2. Ginsburg is great great playing, Gilels good, and Barere a mixture of superb and vulgar playing (sometimes within the space of a few bars!).

The weather was good, I was walking up George street on the wrong side and the sun was boiling but later on I was glad I brought my jacket.

[ada]

Well I'm glad you found your way to Da Capo but sorry you were disappointed with the selection (maybe it was bad day, the selection tends to change a bit).

Hope you're enjoying the lovely sparkling winter days here. I went for a run at Centennial Park the other day and it was so beautiful.

And a spectacular full moon at night lighting the bougainvillea in the courtyard.

Mind you Canberra is lovely too with its clean air, big hills, big skies.

Ah contentment. I think I am having a serotonin rush.

[e60m5]

With all of us down here, we should have a little Sydney meetup! lol

[Waldszenen]

I also went to Michael's Music Room. It was as I expected, like Abels in Canberra but a bit smaller. They had alot of great stuff but it was all too expensive. My formula was shot to pieces as everything was $30 +. I ended up getting 3 ginsburg cds, Gilels rach 3 and Barere Rach 2. Ginsburg is great great playing, Gilels good, and Barere a mixture of superb and vulgar playing (sometimes within the space of a few bars!).

Oh you bastard, I was looking today for the Gilels Rach 3 at Michael's Music Room... you beat me to it.

Yeah Paul's right (E60M5 ), we should all meet up since we're here*

*and magically one of us disappears and we get interviewed by the cops -_-

[e60m5]

Hey, a meetup could be interesting.  Anybody interested?

I work in the city every day from 9-5, and stay in Wahroonga, for the record.

[Tash]

yeah paul let's invite everybody! that'd be funny. quite seriously, those sydneyers if you wanna join me and paul for lunch next week PM one of us

meanwhile i happened to be in glebe yesterday visiting a friend and she was like oh there's this cool music shop down the road from me let's go see it- it was da capo and i was like COOL i only heard of this place last week how funny! got there and discovered that it had moved down the road to the cafe that we had JUST been sitting in! so couldn't be bothered going back but i might check it out on the weekend if i'm around there

[brewtality]

Oh you bastard, I was looking today for the Gilels Rach 3 at Michael's Music Room... you beat me to it.

haha you snooze you lose mate 
It was 20 bucks, the cheapest thing I got there. It was on EMI, I only knew about the testament cd.

I drove through Wahroonga today, a meet up would be fun, but I am only here until sunday (I have some wedding stuff to go to but could probably sneak away for a few hours). Also my access to internet is limited, maybe I'll PM one of you my phone number if you wanna organise something. I have to go to cafes since there was no unsecured wireless to mooch off. I'm in the city right now on liverpool st. Just hit up the small HMV it was cheaper than MMR I got Milstein Tchaik concerto and Landowska scarlatti sonatas.

My sister and I also went to the old Da Capo and were like wth but since I'd walked all the way from Central I said I wasn't gonna leave until I found the new one and bought something.

[e60m5]

haha you snooze you lose mate 
It was 20 bucks, the cheapest thing I got there. It was on EMI, I only knew about the testament cd.

I drove through Wahroonga today, a meet up would be fun, but I am only here until sunday (I have some wedding stuff to go to but could probably sneak away for a few hours). Also my access to internet is limited, maybe I'll PM one of you my phone number if you wanna organise something. I have to go to cafes since there was no unsecured wireless to mooch off. I'm in the city right now on liverpool st. Just hit up the small HMV it was cheaper than MMR I got Milstein Tchaik concerto and Landowska scarlatti sonatas.

My sister and I also went to the old Da Capo and were like wth but since I'd walked all the way from Central I said I wasn't gonna leave until I found the new one and bought something.

The Gilels r3 on the Testament release is with Cluytens, I believe.  Unfortunately, it has the sanctioned cuts in the third movement scherzando, but is stunning playing nonetheless.  At least Gilels/Kondrashin is uncut!

The Milstein Tchaik is great, but I'm still partial to Ferras' recording of that work.  It (the concerto) remains my favourite concerto for any instrument.

Brew, I'm currently not that far away on Phillip St. Small world!

[Tash]

d*mn i'm busy on sunday (dad's b'day) so i think we're gonna miss you brew but hope you had fun in syd, i'll go on a road trip down to canberra sometime  and stalk you ok?!! hahaha

[brewtality]

d*mn i'm busy on sunday (dad's b'day) so i think we're gonna miss you brew but hope you had fun in syd, i'll go on a road trip down to canberra sometime  and stalk you ok?!! hahaha

Yah if any of you guys succumb to those amazingly convincing 'visit Canberra' ads and decide to come I can be your tour guide! I'll show you all the sites; the site of the Royal Canberra hospital implosion and Lake Tuggeranong with its semi-submerged shopping trolleys.

post script on my sydney trip: arrived back home this morning (4am) slightly hungover from last night. It is a shame I didn't get to meet any of you, maybe next time. A sucker for punishment, I went back to MMR to try and right my average (aim for $10 per cd), what I noticed is that many cds are mispriced. E.G a Michelangeli Andromeda cd was $45 but I found a 3 cd (Gilels) set online for $US11. The worst was the 3 cd ABC classics Noel Mewton-Wood set which was $54 and which I got here in Canberra for $4. So be careful!