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Sigal Music Museum: The Marlow Sigal Collection

n the spring of 2020, the Carolina Music Museum changed its name to In his early 20s, Marlowe was looking to put together a harpsichord
the Sigal Music Museum to honor and recognize the generous from a kit when his father again guided his son to look for “real” antique
Iand extraordinary gift of outstanding musical instruments and an harpsichords. “That’s what turned me on to the concept of the real thing
endowment from the family to provide ongoing operational support to rather than modern replicas,” noted Marlowe. He bought a late 18th
help preserve and exhibit them. century square piano and restored it so it was playable.
The Collector Following this foray into collecting, Marlowe purchased a Shudi
A private collector, Marlowe A. harpsichord he found for sale in Scotland, then continued searching for
Sigal of Newton, Massachusetts, was other historic, unique keyboard instruments and, as he stated, “it grew like
internationally regarded as an expert on topsy from there.”
the study, preservation, and restoration The Living Style
of antique musical instruments. As When deciding upon a home, Marlowe picked a Victorian style home
noted in a documentary created by the in Newton, MA because it was large enough to handle his collection. At
Museum, “His interest in his subject this time he realized space was becoming a slight issue and broadened his
was encyclopedic.” collecting of antique instruments to include unique wind instruments,
His love of collecting, restoring, and establishing a strong affinity for recorders. One piece of note is an early
documenting musical instruments 19th century walking stick that was also a flute. It was noted as a gimmick
started at a very young age following his piece, but only added to the breadth and depth of the collection as it
early piano lessons at the age of 7. (Sigal continued to transform.
Marlowe Sigal, left; his parents, was glad he was not told he had to The Worker
Arthur and Serena, seated; and continue with lessons because he was When Marlowe was not collecting, he became the dedicated Founder
brother William in a 1950s photo not very good at it, but it would stay and President of Solutek Corporation, in Roxbury, MA for over 50 years.
with him and influence his inner collector later.) His father, Arthur, had Along with being a successful businessman, he served on the boards of
found an antique reed organ at a little church in New Jersey and brought several organizations devoted to the preservation of musical instruments
it home to his son, stating that“if you can fix it you can have it.” He did, and the performance of classical music.
and it was the start of a musical love affair. Harvard educated, Marlowe played saxophone in the Harvard
In high school, Marlowe took up the saxophone and kept his original Marching Band, and marched every year in at least one game, for a record
instrument with him all his life, and many instruments in the collection are 66 years.
from his love of wind instruments. In a 2007 interview, Marlow said, When he died in May of 2018, Marlowe had not yet made final
“My father bought me a Buescher tenor sax,” he continued. “After a few arrangements for his collection, so his family began the search for an
lessons by high-school music teacher Paul Filer, followed by serious instruc- organization that could take it in its entirety. While other museums were
tion by Ken Brader in Easton, I joined the band. Throughout high school, interested in accepting certain pieces, the Carolina Music Museum was in
college and graduate school, I played this sax in marching bands and the unique position to accept the entire collection and change its name to
continue to do so.” honor Sigal.
The Museum
Early 2017, Greenville arts advocates
Steve Bichel, Beth Lee, and Tom Strange set
MULLICA HILL out to create the leading center for preserv-
BUSINESS
ASSOCIATION ing and celebrating the musical narratives of
the Carolinas and the Southeast – and that
Historic Mullica Hill vision became the Carolina Music
Antique Village Museum, renamed the Sigal Museum.
The museum resides in the historic
former home of the Coca-Cola Bottling
Largest Antique District in South Jersey
Antique Stores, Three Large Multi Dealer Shops, Company at 516 Buncombe Street, One of the oldest keyboards in
Greenville, NC. the Sigal Music Museum in
Specialty Shops and Restaurants
Greenville, South Carolina,
Come for the day and spend the weekend The Sigal collection includes over 25 originated in France around
Open Year-Round English, European, and American pianos 1360. photo: Bill Neely
and harpsichords from 1575 to 1815 and
over 50 woodwinds from 1700 to the 20th century, as well as dozens of
rare world instruments.

The Antiques Center The Lafayette Mill Antiques Center
55 Great Dealers and the Millside Cafe
of Red Bank Just off Route 15, Lafayette NJ 07848
Voted
the Best New www.millantiques.com (973) 383-0065
Antique Center Since 1964 Stock
in New Jersey
by the Asbury Park Press 100 DEALERS ~ Arriving
& the Newark
Star Ledger Daily
ALL SPECIALTIES
Daily 11-5pm Sundays 12-5pm
226 W. Front St. 195 W. Front St.
(732) 842-4336 (732) 842-3393
(Fully Air Conditioned)
RED BANK, NEW JERSEY 07701 Open Thursday thru Sunday 10 AM - 5 PM
Exit 109, Garden State Parkway & Holiday Mondays

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