Sunset Music

Sunset Music Sheet music books, instruments, accessories, and music gifts.

05/27/2026

Graduations, recitals, and Father’s Day are coming! Come find that special gift for each occasion. We have gift certificates and award certificates.

05/03/2026

Face masks are no longer required at Sunset Music. Any one interested in a box of disposable face masks, I have them at a great savings of $5 for a box of fifty.

05/03/2026

Savings on Music Theory in Practice, Grade 8! Test yourself with this high level of theory for only $3.00! Only three copies of this book remain in the store that were $23.75-$26.95, but now are a bargain at $3.00 each. In-store purchase only.

05/03/2026

Bay Beats is accepting recordings to be included in the San Francisco Public Library inventory of recordings but only until May 31, 2026. Those selected for use receive $300.00. The library is looking for a wide variety of music (including Jazz, Tap, Pop, Classical, Latin, etc.) recorded by local musicians. So get that favorite piece recorded and send it in!

Next week, Wednesday, April 1 will be my 38th Anniversary as owner of Sunset Music. I will be having a sale in celebrati...
03/26/2026

Next week, Wednesday, April 1 will be my 38th Anniversary as owner of Sunset Music. I will be having a sale in celebration of it. Come find something for yourself or someone you know at a savings! K Pop Demon Hunters, Wicked: For Good, Anime Music, and music from The Sims are new items in the store. Think about graduation, recital, and Mother’s Day gifts. Face masks are no longer required in the store.

Also, Bay Beats is accepting recordings to be included in the San Francisco Public Library , but only until May 32, 2026. Those artists whose recordings are selected for use receive $300.00. The library is looking for a wide of music (including Jazz, Tap, Pop, Classical, Latin, etc.) recorded by local musicians.

02/14/2026

The store will be closed Friday, February 20, 2026. Will reopen Saturday, February 21. Thank you.

12/19/2025

December specials and holiday schedule:
Specials are for the remainder of December:
1. Snark Rechargeable Clip-On Chromatic Tuners are regularly $29.95, but are only $27.00. Come with USB cord.
2. Polyester scarves! - These lightweight scarves measure 12”x36” and come in several designs and colors. Usually $11.99 each or 2/$20, they are on special at $10.00 each or 2/$18.
3. Slide whistles - regularly $5.85, now just $4.50 & available in lovely bright colors of blue, purple, red, or yellow. Great stocking stuffer!

**The above items are limited to stock on hand and will not be advertised in the store.**

Holiday hours:
Wednesday, December 24 10-2
Thursday, December 25 Closed
Wednesday, December 31 Closed
ThurD-Day, January 1, 2026 Closed

Happy Holidays!

12/05/2025

Here are a few specials for December 6-13:
1. 10%off any of “Real Books,” published by Hal Leonard and 10%off “Jazz The AB Real Book, C edition” published by the Associated Board of the aroyal Schools of Music, distributed by Hal Leonard.
2. Manuscript Paper - Spiral bound, 12-stave, 96 pages, 8.5”x11,” regular price of $5.99, on special for $4!
3. Tote Bags - Lightweight, colorful treble clef bags currently available in green, orange, or purple and measuring 13”x13” are on special. Regularly priced at $5.00, now just $4.00.

Items above are limited to stock on hand and will not be advertised in the store.

A reminder that Tuesday, December 9, the store will be open only 10-11:30 and 3:30-5. Otherwise the store is open Wednesday through Saturday 10-5. I require face masks in the store. Thank you.

11/28/2025

Hello Everyone,
Here are a few specials for our last two days of November:
1. Alfred’s Basid Piano Library Ear Training Books (levels 1A, 1B, Complete Level 1, level 2, level 3, & Complete Level 2-3) $1 each and limited to stock on hand.

2. Socks! Kids, Unisex/Women’s, and Mens are $1 off the listed price. A musical treat and lovely warmth for those toes of yours or a special someone. Come quick for there is a limited stock.

3. Dover editions are 20% off!!! Bach, Mendelssohn, Schubert and more.

Tuesday, December 2 & Tuesday, December 9, the store will be open only 10-11:30 and 3:30-5. Otherwise the store is open Wednesdays through Saturday 10-5. I require face masks in the store. Please spread the word about the sale. Thank you.

Please call 415-731-1725, if you have any questions.

10/12/2025

October 9 this year was the 190th anniversary of the birth of Camille Saint-Saëns. It is incredible that we have recordings made by a composer-pianist who was born in 1835 - some particularly fine ones having been when he was in his 80s.

I will share one of these recordings by the composer today, plus another fantastic set of performances in his honour:

On November 24, 1919 - when he was 84 years old - Saint-Saëns recorded his own Valse Mignonne Op.104. The vivacious exuberance and vitality of his playing belie his age, and the two-and-a-half minute performance is exceptionally fluid, with incredible fingerwork and beautiful lyrical phrasing. An original record of this performance sold recently for close to $32,000 so we are indeed fortunate that we can so easily access a treasure like this at the click of a button - I remember when this was most certainly not the case!

I will share a link to a fine transfer of this performance in the comments, as well as another link that synchronises the audio of this recording to silent film footage of the composer playing the work - brilliantly accomplished, this video really gives the impression of seeing the composer play the work ‘live’. (Why so many great composers and pianists were not filmed is a mystery and a staggering loss.)

I will also share a link to one of the great treasures of recorded history of his music: the complete Saint-Saëns Piano Concertos (and his Septet) played by the great Jeanne-Marie Darré in what is widely considered the reference recording of these works produced in 1955-57, with the Orchestre National de la Radiodiffusion Française led by Louis Fourestier.

Darré was so associated with this repertoire that she was referred to as 'Madame Saint-Saëns' - and no wonder: she was coached by Saint-Saëns himself (as well as by Fauré and Ravel), in addition to her training with two legendary French teachers, Isidor Philipp and Marguerite Long. She played all five Saint-Saëns concertos at one concert in 1926 and repeated this feat on other occasions.

So not only can we hear the composer himself in quite fine sound in 1919 (in addition to earlier recordings elsewhere) but we can hear a pianist he coached and admired play his complete concertos in very fine sound in the 1950s! Darré's scintillating pianism is ideally suited to the composer’s music, intelligently conceived and uncannily direct. Check the comments for the links!

10/11/2025

Are you ready for the fast moving months of Fall? Halloween is right around the corner and we have trick-or-treat music for piano in several playing levels to celebrate.
To help with building new repertoire for any instrument, Schirmer and Kalmus items are 15% off for the remainder of October. What fun! Pick up the Bach Flute Sonatas, the Mozart Clarinet Concerto, the Bach Double, or the Beethoven piano sonatas at a great price.

Address

2311 Irving Street
San Francisco, CA
94122

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

(415) 731-1725

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