ree musicians
As musical acrobats, free musicians saw to the merriment in castles and inns all over Europe in the fourteenth and fifteenth century. They made music in village greens and market squares, at parties, fairs and on other special occasions. Although the clerical and secular authorities did not like the musicians’ free and dissolute way of life, they did perform in cloisters and castles. Obviously, these musicians were appreciated all the same and therefore they were paid for their performances.

In the latter half of fourteenth century many of these free musicians were held in permanent appointment by the cities. In those times town musicians were a sign of status and a display of power: an indication of great wealth. In this way the magistrate wanted to present himself to both his own townspeople and country people. Around that time everywhere in the Netherlands bands arose, e.g. in Utrecht, Maastricht, Antwerp, Brussels and ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

The city’s financial records
The first payments to the City Pipers were found in the Bosch financial records of 1399 – 1400. Besides the pay for the pipers, expenses were earmarked for the purchase of clothing, instruments and decorations. However, money was also spent on wine and candles to light the tower on which the City Pipers were present as guards.

Cultural life
The Bosch City Pipers made an important contribution to cultural life in the capital of Brabant in the fifteenth and sixteenth century.  The “Illustre Lieve Vrouwe Broederschap” [Illustrious Virgin Mary Brotherhood] did not employ any musicians at first, only singers. This Brotherhood hired the City Pipers for the musical accompaniment of their celebrations in Saint John’s cathedral. The City Pipers also played on their musical instruments, when the Brotherhood had its meals

Outside the city
The local guilds of the civic militia regularly attended shooting games. On their trips and during their stay there the City Pipers musically accompanied them, as was the case in Ghent in 1498.  Especially for this occasion, the city made extra money available to have the City Pipers look at their Sunday best. The Bosch pipers, together with the chamber of rhetoric of Moyses Bosch, also participated in many games and parties held by the various chambers of rhetoric. One of the most successful performances was in Antwerp in 1561, when the Bosch townspeople returned home with a host of prizes. When the city council went on trade missions, they very often invited the City Pipers to accompany them. For instance, on the yearly trip to Nuremberg for the so-called pepper ceremony. When the Bosch townspeople went up in arms for their duke or governess, the City Pipers came also along with these warriors many times. In 1507, during one of the wars against Gelre, they made music when castle Poeroijen was under siege.

The city as employer
Only the affluent Bosch people were able to hire the City Pipers for parties and festivities, so the City Pipers performed to earn some extra money. There was often a competitive rivalry among free musicians from other cities! The magistrate granted the City Pipers more privileges. Despite the many performances for third parties, the city council of ‘s-Hertogenbosch remained the main principal for the City Pipers. On Sundays and special festival days they made music on the town ramparts and at city gates or on the steps of the town hall. The City Pipers also joined processions that were organised by the city and were present at city lotteries.

Important visitors
In those times a great number of dignitaries honoured the city with their visits. The City Pipers must certainly have accompanied the city council and the clergy at the “blijde incomste” [the joyous arrival] of Maximilian of Austria, Philip the Fair and Charles V.
In the fifteenth and sixteenth century, as musical ambassadors, the City Pipers were the city’s business card. They also left for other towns to represent ‘s-Hertogenbosch in various processions

Varying number of musicians
The number of Bosch City Pipers was varying: in the city’s financial records you can sometimes read of four people and another time they mention five. However, it also happens that only one drummer and trumpeter is mentioned. On special occasions musicians from elsewhere were hired to reinforce the band of the City Pipers.  After the siege of ‘s-Hertogenbosch, in 1629, the City Pipers probably disappeared from the scene. 

The present City Pipers  consist of eleven people.