Fifers or pifferari (tocadores de pífaro)

Wind musical instruments were always used in Europe at all times; they included the use of fifes. The fifers or “pifferari” were itinerant musicians who travelled through several regions of Italy fulfilling religious promises and receiving alms.


Os instrumentos musicais de sopro foram em todas as épocas sempre muito utilizados na Europa, entre eles o pífaro. Os pifferari eram itinerantes: percorriam certas regiões de Itália cumprindo promessas religiosas e recebendo esmolas.

Unknown (19th century)-'the pifferari playing before the Virgin, Rome'-engraving Washington-Library of Congress (Music Division)

Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824)-'pifferari'-oil on panel Private collection

Franz Catel (1778-1856)-'pifferari'-watercolour-1835

Arthur John Strut (1819-1888)-'pifferaro in the Roman Campagna'-watercolour over penci-1847

Alexandre-Gabriel Decamp (1803-1860)-'pifferaro in front of a Madona'