But both these psalters were increasingly deemed unsatisfactory for englishspeaking colonial life, so the attempt was made to create a new american psalter, the socalled bay psalm book published in cambridge, mass. Richard mather and a group of his fellow new england clergy transcribed biblical psalms into metered verse. This little book of 1640 was precursor to lexington and concord, and, ultimately, to american political independence. Bay psalm book article about bay psalm book by the free. The first book written and printed in the new world, the bay psalm book holds a unique place in our cultural and religious history. Being a fascimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, in new england in 1640, wilberforce eames. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. Bay psalm book the whole booke of psalmes first edition. More than simple psalmsinging in english by robin a. 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. In 1640, the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre was published in cambridge. Not until its ninth edition, printed in 1698, were any tunes printed in the bay psalm book. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. The bay psalm book the bay psalm book, wilberforce eames the bay psalm book.
The bay psalm book was the first book to be printed in north america, twenty years after the arrival of the pilgrims in massachusetts. The reverend jose glover put this into action when. The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some of the tunes to which they were sung have survived for instance, old 100th. Book printed material the vvhole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. A facsimile reprint of the first edition of 1640 the facsimile notes on the reproduction. Massachusetts, by stephen daye in 1640, was the first book printed by the newly established cambridge press. Jan 29, 2017 the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated in to english metre 1640 also known as the bay psalm book was the first book length publication in the north american colonies. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into.
This bay psalm book is a facsimile of the first edition, the earliest printed english work in colonial america. What you need to know about the bay psalm book christianity. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated in to english metre 1640 also known as the bay psalm book was the first book length publication in the north american colonies. As an electroniconly publication offered as a downloadable pdf, the digital bay psalm book takes advantage of digital technology to offer meticulously rendered photographs of the 7. The copy of the bay psalm book used to create the pdf additional files and the flipping book the read online button is one of 11 copies of the first edition known to exist and one of only four perfect copies. 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. The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Published 1903 by prepared for the new england society in the city of new york in new york. As such, puritans developed the practice of lining out the psalm having a deacon or clerk read each line of text before it was sung. As the antinomian or free grace controversy illustrated, new england puritans were far from unanimous on doctrinal issueseven psalmsinging, according to the bay psalm book preface, had become a source of discord. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day, it included a dissertation on the lawfulness and. Jun 15, 2007 the bay psalm book was the common hymnal of the massachusetts bay colony. The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some of the tunes to which they were sung have survived for instance, old. 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 edition of this facsimile reprint of the bay psalm book is limited to. The bay psalm book of 1640 was the first book printed in america. Bay psalm book, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america. A revised and enlarged edition, under the title of the psalms hymns and spiritual songs of the old and. Mi kmaq hieroglyphic prayers download ebook pdf, epub. A facsimile reprint of the first edition of 1640 the facsimile. The first book printed in british north america, 1640 table of contents the enigma of the bay psalm book, by zoltan haraszti the bay psalm book. Its a book that was not created to be fancy or splendid or valuable in any way other than the significance of its content, says derick dreher, the director of philadelphias rosenbach library, one of the few institutions to hold a bay psalm book. The shakerlike character of the melody in this treatment of psalm 23 from the bay psalm book, 1640, rises steadily to a triumphant climax, moving from an a cappella statement of the. 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.
The book was used by nearly all the congregations in the colony of massachusetts bay hence the name of the bay psalm book. Het bay psalm book is een psalter dat in 1640 gedrukt werd in cambridge massachusetts. 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. The singing of psalms, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. In 1640, the bay psalm book, a new translation of the psalms into metrical english verse, was produced by richard mather and john eliot for the massachusetts bay colony. Since the appearance of the bay psalm book in 1640, music has served as a defining factor for american religious experience and has been of fundamental importance in the development of american identity and psyche. Please note that there are no folios in the bay psalm book facsimile. The first book printed in british north america, 1640 haraszti, zoltan on. The bay psalm book was printed just 20 years after the pilgrims arrival and remained in use for well over a century.
The bay psalm bookcambridge, 1640 mission music in california. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Preface to the bay psalm book 1640 songs of the puritans. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. The new psalm book was adopted at once by nearly every congregation in the colony of massachusetts bay, and for that reason it came to be known as the bay psalm book. If one of the old southbpl copies is sold, it will be the first time since 1947 that a first edition has come to auction, and would be the first time a copy.
Together, they served to disseminate puritan values for over a hundred years. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre 1640, familiarly called the bay psalm book, was the first book. 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. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. The first book printed in british north america, commonly known as the bay psalm book. A tiny hymnal from 1640 believed to be the first book. Historic american hymnal bay psalm book from 1640 may. Mar 30, 20 in episode 24, we will be discussing the bay psalm book, widely regarded as the first book printed in british north america in 1640. The library of congress copy of the bay psalm book and david m.
A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in cambridge. The book is in its original binding, with the title page signed by mather. The vvhole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. Music of the southwest various artists the first half of this collection, sung by the margaret dodds singers, is of music taken from the first book ever printed in what became the united states of america the bay psalm book. The founders of the massachusetts bay colony came to the new world seeking religious freedom, and their first publication was a hymnal. Whereunto is prefixed a discourse declaring not only the lawfullnes, but also the necessity of the heavenly ordinance of singing scripture psalmes in the churches of god. These two copies of the text are together for the first time since they were separated long ago. Link to an online text of the preface of the bay psalm book is here. It was probably preceded by a small singlesheet production known as the oath of a freeman, of which no copy is extant. Also available in digital form on the library of congress web site.
Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at. The vvhole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. Heath anthology of american literaturethe bay psalm book. Link to a performance of psalm 23 and psalm 100 from the bay psalm book.
The bay psalm book the first book printed in america. Reissued in successive editions, it remained in use for more than 100 years. The bay psalm book and the new england primer were, next to the bible, the most commonly owned books in seventeenthcentury new england. Apr 12, 2014 for psalm 23 as with the other psalms, the bay psalm book just prints the tune in this case, canterbury with playfords bass line, but in fact, playfords setting is for four voices, and that. The bay psalm book 1640 and the new england primer 1683. David redden, director of special projects and worldwide chairman of sothebys books department, commented. Being a facsimile reprint of the first edition, wilberforce eames the bay psalm book. The origin and production of the bay psalm book may be. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at a. Jun 11, 2018 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. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book the singing of psalms, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. 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.
Both books are presented in a single hardcover volume. The methodist pocket hymn book revised and improved. Psalm 98 bay psalm book, 1640, by thomas ravenscroft ca. Digital bay psalm book university of alabama press. Psalm 23 bay psalm book, 1698, by john playford 16231686. Link to the world digital library entry for the bay psalm book is here. Principally written by john eliot, thomas welde, and richard mather, these psalms transitioned from a literal translation to a more aesthetically pleasing metered version. First printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts, the bay psalm book was the first book printed in colonialist america. Not only is the text in the public domain, the book can be viewed in pdf form.
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. The bay psalm book being a facsimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, in new england in 1640. The bay psalm book s publication in 1640 came at a time when few could read and write words, never mind musical notation, and there were few copies of the book created to share in churches. Chapter 2 examines a selection of these, ranging from the plain style of george wither, whose bid to supplant sternhold and hopkins ran afoul of the stationers monopoly, and the even more prosaic bay psalm book 1640, whose principal concern was wordforword faithfulness to the hebrew text, to the more literary work of george sandys, who wrote for private devotion rather than. Jean ferguson carr classroom issues and strategies. Supervised by richard mather, thomas weld and john eliot. Rubensteins copy, on loan to the library for this exhibition, were at originally part of the historic old south church library in boston.
This facsimile of the rare original edition includes a companion volume, the enigma of the bay psalm book, which offers an academic study of the psalters history and contents. Nov 27, 20 its a translation of the old testament book of psalms, valuable for its rarity and because it was printed in 1640, the first englishlanguage book printed in america. The 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book. The mystique of the bay psalm book rare books, book. 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. Its a translation of the old testament book of psalms, valuable for its rarity and because it was printed in 1640, the first englishlanguage book printed in america. The bay psalm book was not only the first book printed in america, and the first book written in america. Title from the bay psalm book, a facsim, reprint of the first ed. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day.
The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english. Psalm 23 and the bay psalm book the music that shaped. Bay psalm book in metre 1640 logos bible software forums. Adopted by nearly every congregation in the massachusetts bay colony, a. With the reports today wbur, boston globe that the leadership of bostons old south church is considering the sale of one of its two copies of the 1640 bay psalm book, i thought it was worth taking a look at the eleven known copies. Those settings are recommended for use in the bay psalm book, so that is what i have done for psalm 98. The bay psalm book 1640 the new england primer 1683. The bay psalm book cambridge, 1640 mission music in california. An american icon, a piece of heroic history it was both the first book printed in the colonies and it was also the first book entirely written in the colonies. Printing the bay psalm book in 1640 required importing the tools and materials of printing to the new colony.
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