# Tell me about New York (music, especially (not Broadway)) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 5, 2007, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-new-york-music-especially-not-broadway/390988 "2007-02-05T22:03:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-new-york-music-especially-not-broadway/390988/1 "2007-02-05T22:03:21Z")
Sooooooo I’ve gone and booked some cheap last-minute tickets to visit relatives. Going to be there the 15th-18th Feb. And I’ve absolutely no idea whatsoever what to do with myself! As some of you may already know, I’ve got musical interests, particularly along the classical/modern classical/avant garde/slightly odd/what-the-fuck lines. I’d love it if anyone has suggestions of anywhere to go, or any specific gigs, featuring anything a little off-centre. Or a lot off-centre, for that matter… As for what else I’ll spend my time doing…well, I know it might be a bit chilly (although the 10-day forecast does only look like one for parts of Scotland), but I was never planning on the whole Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island thing. Tours or good short guide books/walking routes talking about architecture would be interesting. Good & oddball bookshops would be _very_ interesting (especially at $1.96 to the pound!). Beyond that, just random suggestions from SDMB types for an SDMB type would be very much appreciated 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-new-york-music-especially-not-broadway/390988/2 "2007-02-05T22:12:17Z")
The first place to check out is Symphony Space: > **[Symphony Space | Performing Arts Center, Theater, Film](http://www.symphonyspace.org/)** > > Symphony Space is a performing arts center on the Upper West Side of Manhattan offering programs in theatre, film, literature, music, dance and family entertainment. Exactly what it sounds like - a theatre that focuses on interesting live music with a classical emphasis, along with other stuff. You might also check out PS1 [http://www.ps1.org/](http://www.ps1.org/) It is a school - “PS 1” = old NY shorthand for Public School #1 - that was converted to a modern art space; but I believe they have music, too. I know there are some great sheet music stores and other cool stuff like that - but I don’t use sheet music, troglodyte guitarist that I am, so don’t know their names or locations, only remember the mention of them… Hope that is a start! If you want non-classical music references, speak up - there are tons of great little places, like the Mercury Lounge and Knitting Factory and other places in Brooklyn and the Lower East Side, like Pianos…but the music is all over the place… ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-new-york-music-especially-not-broadway/390988/3 "2007-02-05T22:14:23Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] I know there are some great sheet music stores [/QUOTE] Ooooh, that was the other thing I forgot!!! Thanks a lot ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-new-york-music-especially-not-broadway/390988/4 "2007-02-05T22:14:47Z")
It will be an amazing weekend in NYC for early music. Two wonderful concerts are both on the 17th. First I’ll be taking in The Orlando Consort at The Cloisters Museum at 1PM performing various 13-16th century works, and then Dialogos performing a 12th century musical play from Dalmatia called Tondal’s Vision. 7PM, Corpus Christi Church. If either ring your bell, let me know and I can give you the details. ---
**Author:** ![DurbBook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@DurbBook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DurbBook)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-new-york-music-especially-not-broadway/390988/5 "2007-02-05T22:20:31Z")
Pick up a copy of \*New York \* magazine at your local newsstand and check out the “The Week” in the back of the magazine. You’ll find current info on classical music, opera, dance, concerts, jazz, and cabaret. If you need someone to schlepp your bags, I can help. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-new-york-music-especially-not-broadway/390988/6 "2007-02-05T22:23:16Z")
[QUOTE=Maeglin] First I’ll be taking in The Orlando Consort at The Cloisters Museum at 1PM performing various 13-16th century works [/QUOTE] Interested! Although from [www.metmuseum.org](http://www.metmuseum.org) it seems to be on the 18th? ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-new-york-music-especially-not-broadway/390988/7 "2007-02-05T22:26:50Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] Interested! Although from [www.metmuseum.org](http://www.metmuseum.org) it seems to be on the 18th? [/QUOTE] Mea culpa, both concerts are indeed on the 18th. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2007, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-new-york-music-especially-not-broadway/390988/8 "2007-02-05T22:41:18Z")
[QUOTE=Maeglin] Mea culpa, both concerts are indeed on the 18th. [/QUOTE] Did I save you from making a silly mistake? 🆒 I may well book that one - do you have details of the programme? ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-new-york-music-especially-not-broadway/390988/9 "2007-02-06T00:02:04Z")
In addition to Symphony Space (great hall!) check out: Brooklyn Academy of Music - one of my favorite venues for new music. [Tonic](http://www.tonicnyc.com/) - Best place for avante garde jazz/fusion and new music in general. Not sure if he’s an owner, but Tonic is closely associated with John Zorn and his circle. The Bang on a Can All Stars have also recently played there. [Merkin Hall](http://www.kaufman-center.org/mch/) [World Financial Center’s Wintergarden](http://www.worldfinancialcenter.com/ae/default_old.asp) [Roulette](http://roulette.org/events/2007_03.html) Ooooh, I almost forgot, check out this place for a real spirit for the avante guard. I saw my friend perform there a few months ago. It’s a tiny little space, probably seats 75-100. Checking the calendar, both that Friday and Saturday seem very interesting. I’ll post some more as I think of them. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-new-york-music-especially-not-broadway/390988/10 "2007-02-06T18:29:58Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] Did I save you from making a silly mistake? 🆒 I may well book that one - do you have details of the programme? [/QUOTE] All the info I have says the theme of the performance is flowers and horticulture. It will be a variety of early music from western Europe. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-new-york-music-especially-not-broadway/390988/11 "2007-02-06T18:35:29Z")
For books, you can’t do better than The Strand for both price and variety. At 12th & Broadway ---
**Author:** ![Bootis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e8c25b/32.png) [@Bootis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootis)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2007, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-new-york-music-especially-not-broadway/390988/12 "2007-02-06T19:05:51Z")
Check out The Village Voice online-- [http://www.villagevoice.com/nycguide/index.php?sid=6](http://www.villagevoice.com/nycguide/index.php?sid=6) It lists pretty much all the shows coming up in NYC, sortable by genre, date, neighborhood, or venue. Looks like they only list a week in advance though, you’ll have to wait a few days to see shows for the 15-18. They also have excellent listings of art gallerys and museum exhibits ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-new-york-music-especially-not-broadway/390988/13 "2007-02-08T23:02:50Z")
Bumpity-bump… I’m looking into the Orlando Consort concert, and there’s one that’s caught my eye the previous evening at Tonic. More suggestions welcome! ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2007, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-new-york-music-especially-not-broadway/390988/14 "2007-02-19T04:49:33Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] Bumpity-bump… I’m looking into the Orlando Consort concert, and there’s one that’s caught my eye the previous evening at Tonic. More suggestions welcome! [/QUOTE] Did you make it? It was a wonderful show. And the Dialogos performance was positively unearthly. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-new-york-music-especially-not-broadway/390988/15 "2007-02-23T22:21:24Z")
Yes, I was at the Orlando gig - thanks for the tip, **Maeglin**! Would never have known it was on, nor even ventured up to the Cloisters, without the suggestion. Also thanks to **Moe** for the Tonic recommendation, where I saw the Escher Quartet knock Bartok senseless 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2007, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-about-new-york-music-especially-not-broadway/390988/16 "2007-02-23T23:45:19Z")
I should add: [random musings](http://blog.myspace.com/owainsutton)