Nov 25, 20 today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. The communal singing of the psalms from the bay psalm book served to instill a strong sense of unity among puritans of the day. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day, it included a dissertation on the lawfulness and. This book, with which the pilgrims literally sang their praises to god, presents a translation of the psalms from hebrew, transposed into metrical rhyme for congregational singing. The book became popularly known as the bay psalm book, named after the massachusetts bay colony in which its translatorsamong them the ministers john cotton and richard matherlived. What is the bay psalm book but did you know that the bay psalm book was first printed in the colonies in 1640 and in reissues remained in use for over 100 years. A copy belonging to bostons old south church will be auctioned by sothebys on nov. A committee of thirty learned elders, including john cotton, richard mather, and john eliot, set about the task of creating a new translation of the 150 hebrew psalms into. The bay psalm book was published in 1640, more than a century and a half after the first gutenberg bibles and 20 years after the pilgrims had landed at plymouth. Revised by richard lyon and henry dunster the first president of harvard in 1651, and three more times in the 1700s once by cotton mather, the bay psalm book was widely used until it was supplanted in the eighteenth century by psalters written by nahum tate and nicholas brady 1696, by isaac watts 1719, and by john and charles wesley 1737. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance, sale.
A committee of thirty learned elders, including john cotton, richard mather, and john eliot, set about the task of creating a new translation of the 150 hebrew psalms into english and casting the text into verse for singing. It was published in cambridge, massachusetts, by the puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book the singing of psalms, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. This beautiful facsimile edition of the bay psalm book reproduces one of the best remaining copies of the psalter, including the translators preface and the original printers errors and binding marks. It was both the first book printed in the colonies and it was also the first book entirely written in the colonies. Music had been printed in the new world as early as the 1540s in mexican service books, nearly a. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance. A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in cambridge.
Today we come to the end of our study of the fourth book of the psalms, the psalms that run from psalm 90 to psalm 106, and we come to a great long psalm which majors on repentance. We suffer, and we cannot shield those we love from suffering. The bay psalm book, formally titled the whole book of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre 1640, was the first book printed on angloamerican soil. Originally, the colonys residents looked to a committee of thirty men led by john eliot, thomas welde, and richard mather to translate all 150 psalms from hebrew into english. These two copies of the text are together for the first time since they were separated long ago. The reverend jesse glover imported the first printing press to the massachusetts bay colony in 1638, some 18 years after the first english settlers landed at plymouth rock.
The bay psalm book was the first book printed in the colonies and the first book printed in english in the new world. The decision to print a book of psalms metered for singing may seem an odd choice as the first book to be printed by the settlers of massachusetts bay, but this. The library of congress copy of the bay psalm book and david m. The bay psalm book, as it has come to be known, consists of a substantial introduction summarizing the creators philosophy and intentions, followed by translations of the psalms rendered into meter, enabling them to be sung to wellknown tunes of the day. Written by richard mather mather, richard, 15961669, british puritan clergyman in north america, b. A virtual reconstruction of the new worlds first englishlanguage book ian christiemiller, wilberforce eames and kevin cattrell. The book is considered to have been the work of christian reformers seeking a. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. The bay psalm book 1 the lord to me a shepherd is, want therefore i shall not, he in the folds of tender grass doth make me down to lie to waters calm he gently leads restore my soul doth he he doth in paths of righteousness for his names sake lead me. Bay psalm book, byname of the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america. The founders of the massachusetts bay colony came to the new world seeking religious freedom, and their first publication was a hymnal.
Psalm 23 bay psalm book scriptures good books free beta. Bay psalm book article about bay psalm book by the free. A list of editions of the bay psalm book compiled by wilberforce eames, 1885. Nov 27, 20 the bay psalm book was published in 1640, more than a century and a half after the first gutenberg bibles and 20 years after the pilgrims had landed at plymouth. Neither cottons essay nor the poems have been attended to by modern critics. At points it seems he is raving and we are perhaps encouraged to believe that maybe he is the real madman of the book s title. Book 4 psalms 90106 bible commentary theology of work. The bay psalm book is valued not only as an object of extreme. If you have your bibles, id invite you to turn with me to psalm 106. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. The bay psalm book and the new england primer were, next to the bible, the most commonly owned books in seventeenthcentury new england. The first known example in what is now the united states was a simple printed label created by stephen daye, the massachusetts bay colony printer of the 1642 bay psalm book. None of us is able to make our own lifelet alone the whole worldas it should be.
The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. This book, with which the pilgrims literally sang their praises to god. Gods guidance in our work psalm 25 book 2 psalms 4272 gods presence in the midst of disaster psalm 46 anxiety when unscrupulous people succeed psalms 49, 50, 52, 62 book 3 psalms 7389 the workplace consequences of personal failings psalm 73 the economic consequences of national wrongdoings psalm 81, 85. Ones for the books the bay psalm book, the first book to be printed in america, has sold at. The bay psalm book sale view auction details, bid, buy and collect the various books, manuscripts and artwork at sothebys art auction. Preface to the bay psalm book 1640 songs of the puritans. Experts have confirmed that it is the first ever bound book published and printed in america.
The digital bay psalm book gives scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts alike a rich and intimate experience of the book. Today, only eleven copies are still in existence and fetch as much as fourteen million dollars at auction, making it also the most expensive book in the world. Thats a wrap the bay psalm book, the first book ever printed in british america, and the first book ever written in america. Jean ferguson carr classroom issues and strategies. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. Krummel in 1698, the boston printers bartholomew green and john allen brought out a ninth edition of the bay psalm book. Tom ruprecht longing to belong saira shah an american childhood annie dillard. The first book written and printed in the new world, the bay psalm book holds a unique place in our cultural and religious history. Supervised by richard mather, thomas weld and john eliot. Heath anthology of american literaturethe bay psalm book. This collection of psalm texts, rather than the bible itself, was the first volume published in the new world. Bay psalm book, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america. Digital bay psalm book university of alabama press.
Bay psalm book, the article about bay psalm book, the by. In 1638, the first printing press was imported to the massachusetts bay colony and a grou. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. The bay psalm book is older and now rarer than audubons catalogue of fowl. The madman of bergerac begins very strongly but then it falls into a curious stasis in which maigret directs operations from his bed in a hotel. Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm 69, verse 23 see page 39. Choose from 123 different sets of english 1121 flashcards on quizlet. The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at. The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Nov 27, 20 the bay psalm book is the first known book to be printed in what is now the united states. Psalm 23 bay psalm book scriptures good books free.
Selby kiffer, international senior specialist in sothebys asserted that the bay psalm book is not merely a book but has acquired the status of one of the greatest artifacts of american history. Translated directly from hebrew into english, the bay psalm book was printed in cambridge, massachusetts, in 1640, less than twenty years after the mayflower left plymouth, england. Rubensteins copy, on loan to the library for this exhibition, were at originally part of the historic old south church library in boston. The singing of psalmes, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. It was the first book turned out by a printing press that had been shipped over from england. To the chief musician, a psalm of david 1 the heavens do declare the majesty of god. However, the psalms are popular for private devotion among many protestants and still used in. It was the first book printed in british north america. Those seeking further information about the bay psalm book, its subsequent editions and various copies, would be well advised to consult eames 1885 bibliography a list of editions of the bay psalm book or new england version of the psalms.
By the 20th century, they were mostly replaced by hymns in church services. The psalm book, written and printed by the puritans of massachusetts bay colony in 1640, was designed to allow a whole congregation to sing psalms together in church and at home. The bay psalm book preface first reformed presbyterian. The bay psalm book is a key artifact in understanding the beliefs and practices of pilgrims, and the importance of music therein. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english.
Book 4 of psalms places the brokenness of the worldincluding human mortalityin the context of gods sovereignty. The bay psalm book is a very important piece of history. He studied at oxford, began preaching, and was ordained in 1620. The whole booke of psalmes, or the bay psalm book, as it is now known, is expected to sell for. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at a. Nov 25, 20 the first book printed in what later became the united states of america is expected to set a world record at auction on tuesday. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day. Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm. Bay psalm book, common hymnal of the massachusetts bay colony. Written by richard mather mather, richard, 15961669, british puritan clergyman in north america, b explanation of bay psalme book. Dec 01, 2003 the first book written and printed in the new world, the bay psalm book holds a unique place in our cultural and religious history.
It was the first book printed in english in the americas and is considered one of the most historic volumes in american religious history. The bay psalm book preface the singing of psalms breathes out nothing but holy harmony and melody. In recent years, a new generation of scholars has returned to the book, seeing it from fresh perspectivesas a social document, for example, and as a physical artifact of early american life in the massachusetts bay area. In it one sees the first music printed in the british colonies. Psalm 23 and the bay psalm book the music that shaped. Richard mather and a group of his fellow new england clergy transcribed biblical psalms into metered verse. Nov 16, 20 the bay psalm book was the first book printed in the colonies and the first book printed in english in the new world. Bay psalm book being a facsimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, in new england in. Cambridge university press 97805215425 the new cambridge history of the bible edited by euan cameron index more information in this web service cambridge. The 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. Dec 04, 20 a list of editions of the bay psalm book compiled by wilberforce eames, 1885.
The puritan divines of the massachusetts bay colony set out to produce a translation from the hebrew that was reflective. The bay psalm book, printed just twenty years after the pilgrims arrival. A2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing thomas princes annotations of variant readings from the 1647 reprint edition. An american childhood calling home in too deep saira shah. Music library and information science american music hymns publishing music publishing music, american publishing industry. Dec 03, 2012 the bay psalm book is a key artifact in understanding the beliefs and practices of pilgrims, and the importance of music therein. Readers may assume that both of these texts are simply functional transmissions of doctrine and discipline, representing a narrow and dogmatic religious culture of merely antiquarian interest. When one considers the difficulties of mere existence during this time, a mere 20 years after the first arrivals in.
The bay psalm book 1640 the new england primer 1683. Book 2 psalms 4272 bible commentary theology of work. Together, they served to disseminate puritan values for over a hundred years. Bergerac series by andrew saville goodreads share book. The bay psalm book, as it is known, is essentially sacred text to be sung during the liturgy. Bay psalme book article about bay psalme book by the free. The first book printed in north america was a collection of psalm settings, the bay psalm book 1640. Psalm singing continued to be considered an important.
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