De Antwerpse stadsspeellieden (ca. 1411-1794)
by dr. Godelieve Spiessens
In 2 Parts: Part I (text): 245 pp., with French and English summaries
and 20 reproductions (5 in colour); Part II (archival documents): 234
pp. enclosed on CD-Rom. Edited by the author and Universitas Digital
Printing (Antwerp). Salesprice: 20 EUR (shipping and bank costs
excluded*) to pay on IBAN BE63 0000 8659 2708 de G. Spiessens,
Italielei 217, BE2000 Antwerpen.
The Antwerp city pipers appeared about 1411, but it wasn't until 1530
that they were mentioned in the city archives on a regular base. The
following topics are treated: appointments, salary, livery, extra
services, instruments and repertoire, benefits (exemptions, wine,
pecuniary gifts). The extra services, in and outside the church,
reflect the political, social and religious life of the era, such as a
Joyful Entrance, victory, peace, a new bishop, happy and mournful royal
events such as birth, marriage, coronation, death and masses against
war and the plague, a bad harvest. The city pipers were employed to
glorify the power and dignity of the city council and to entertain both
citizens and visitors. In 1794, the French occupying forces abolished
the secular institution of city music. --
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