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The Christmas Waits 1848
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The Christmas Waits 1848
Town waits, playing their musical instruments while people are standing around listening. 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). 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 and leading the Mayors Procession. Date: 1848
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Media ID 20148005
© Illustrated London News Ltd/Bubblepunk
1840s 1848 Amateur Atmospheric Band Carol Carols Characters Clarinet Corner Fiddler Foggy Gloomy Instruments Lamps Moody Musician Musicians Perform Performers Player Players Season Seasonal Tradition Traditions Urchins Wait Waits Musical Performing
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EDITORS COMMENTS
The Christmas Waits 1848: A Gloomy and Atmospheric Scene of Town Musicians Playing on a Foggy Winter Night In this evocative image from 1848, a group of waits, or town musicians, gather at a street corner to perform for the holiday season. Dating back to medieval times, waits were an integral part of British town and city life, responsible for playing their musical instruments through the streets at night, waking the townsfolk on dark winter mornings, and leading processions. The waits depicted in this photograph are huddled together, their faces illuminated by the flickering gas lamps that line the foggy streets. The mood is both festive and unsavory, with a mix of amateur and professional musicians, including a fiddler and a clarinet player, joined by a few urchins who have gathered to listen. The scene is set against a backdrop of the Victorian era, with the gas lamps casting an orange glow over the cobblestone streets and the gloomy, foggy atmosphere adding to the overall sense of tradition and nostalgia. The waits' instruments, including the fiddle, clarinet, and possibly other brass instruments, add to the lively and seasonal atmosphere, as the townspeople gather to listen and enjoy the music. Despite the unsavory characters that may have been drawn to the waits' performances, the tradition of town musicians playing carols and other holiday tunes remained a cherished part of British culture throughout the 1800s and beyond. This photograph captures a moment in time, frozen in history, and offers a glimpse into the rich musical and cultural traditions of the past.
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