Pfeifer ( German Pfeifer or German Pfeiffer , in the translation “ Svistun ”) - in medieval Germany and adjacent German-speaking regions, the designation for musicians, primarily stray.
In the Middle Ages, on the territory of the Holy Roman Empire, pfeifer was a musician playing wind instruments. Later it moved to other specialization of musical performance. These musicians, for example, could play the flute, but also stringed instruments. Vagrant musicians in the Middle Ages were completely powerless, and in order to improve their social status they united into brotherhoods , from which the guilds of musicians subsequently arose. In France and southern Germany, large land associations of pfeifers were established on the ground, which were led by the so-called Pfeiferkönig ( “king of musicians” ) in Germany and Alsace . As a rule, he was appointed by the local authorities. So, in 1355 a lute player Johann was established by Emperor Charles IV as “ Rex omnium histrionum ”. Pfeifferov had its own special court, which held its meetings once a year ( Pfeifertage ), and a separate judicial law ( Pfeiferrecht ).
Beginning in the 15th century, some changes are indicated in the position of pfeiffera. So, there are corporations of stadtpfeifer - urban instrumental musicians - who were in the service of the city authorities. Their duties included not only accompanying various celebrations and holidays, but also learning the art of music. The musical education itself was carried out according to the rules of artisan, workshop training. The city organizations of the stadtfeifferes were under the control of the “stadtmuzikus” (Stadtmusikus) - the urban musical ( cornet ) master. Similar urban groups of stadtfeifers remained in some parts of Germany until the beginning of the 20th century (for example, in Silesia ).