Wait (musician)

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From medieval times up to the early 19th century, every British town and city of any note had a band of waites (modern spelling Waits or Waitts). Their duties varied from time to time and place to place, but included playing their instruments through the town at night, waking the townsfolk on dark winter mornings by playing under their windows, welcoming Royal visitors by playing at the town gates, and leading the Mayor's procession on civic occasions. These musical bands were often attired in colourful liveries and in some cases wore silver chains.

Most continental European countries had their equivalents of waits. In Holland they were called stadspijpers, in Germany Stadtpfeifer and in Italy pifferi (See Alta cappella).