musica antiqua st. petersburgrussia's first period-instrument orchestra

Most New York music shops sell guitars and synths, but musica antiqua st. petersburg does something rarer. Russia’s first period-instrument orchestra now keeps a quiet storefront on the Upper West Side, where early-music lovers can find gut strings, baroque bows, and harpsichord quills. The address is 163 Amsterdam Ave, just steps from the 72nd Street subway stop, making it easy to swing by between rehearsals at Lincoln Center.

While the neighborhood hums with juice bars and yoga studios, this shop feels like a pocket of the 18th century. Staff can guide you through the differences between a theorbo and a chitarrone, or help track down a replacement rosin cake for your viola da gamba. The selection leans toward the historically accurate, so if you’re after a modern violin setup, you’ll need to look elsewhere—here, the focus stays on instruments and accessories that would have been familiar to Bach or Vivaldi.

Questions about a particular reed or tuning peg? Give them a call at (212) 579-3308. For directions, pull up the map before you head out; Amsterdam Avenue can be tricky to navigate on foot if you’re not paying attention. Once you arrive, you’ll find everything you need to keep an old-world sound alive in the middle of the city.