Shepherd playing the flute Fontanini 19 cm

The flutist or piper, in couple with the bagpiper, was the shepherd who, playing, travelled inside himself, losing himself. He was a contemplator of stars and thoughts, the bagpipe, as well as the flute, would serve to call the flock to order. In the popular Neapolitan crib, the pipers have also assumed the meaning of the two ages of man: old age (the pipers are usually represented as old) and youth (the flute player or piper is represented as young).