A Glimpse at the Intersection of Music and Technology at Sigal Music Museum

On August 30, the Sigal Music Museum in Greenville, South Carolina richly entertained members, board representatives, and VIP guests with a sneak peek at its newest exhibit, A Measure of Music: S.T.E.A.M. and the Musical Mind.

Key Highlights

The exclusive event unfolded an opportunity for visitors to get the first public glimpse of the museum’s digital sample libraries. These libraries, a seamless blend of technology and history, are the digital transformations of various musical sounds played on high-value historical keyboard instruments owned by the museum.

Among the attendees were a mix of music lovers, historians, and technology enthusiasts. Familiar faces in the crowd included Chloe Groth, Susan Stewart, Gary Robinson, and John Stewart. The event was also graced by David Sims, notable board member of the museum, and Chris Stack, the exhibit’s innovative mind.

Precious Historical Instruments

The museum houses a wide array of rare and valuable keyboard instruments. For this exhibit, two instruments that drew significant attention were the 1769 Pascal Taskin Double-Manual Harpsichord and the 1575 Baffo Italian Virginal. These instruments represent not only impressive craftsmanship but also the rich history of music from their respective eras.

Also featured was the 1845 John Broadway & Sons Grand Piano, known to have been played by the legendary composer Chopin. This instrument’s inclusion in the digital library enabled guests to explore and appreciate the melodic intricacies that won it favor with Chopin.

Combining Art and Technology

The A Measure of Music: S.T.E.A.M. and the Musical Mind exhibit aimed to enlighten visitors about the intersection of the Arts with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) principles. By converting the unique sounds of vintage instruments into digital libraries, the Sigal Music Museum is enabling the preservation of these sounds for future ages. This unique idea facilitates the study of historical music and instruments in an innovative, digital format.

With this innovative blend of history, music, and technology, the VIP sneak peek at Sigal Music Museum was definitely an enriching experience for its attendees.