Bay psalm book logos

Music had been printed in the new world as early as the 1540s in mexican service books, nearly a. The bay psalm book enables this aural culture by refusing to fix the psalmtune, just as it refuses to trust the fallen fixed artistic form. Neither cottons essay nor the poems have been attended to by modern critics. Bay psalm book, common hymnal of the massachusetts bay colony. Bay psalm book, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america. Bay psalme book article about bay psalme book by the free. The bay psalm book, as it is known, is essentially sacred text to be sung during the liturgy. Americas hesitation over hymns christian history magazine. Book people, ephemera people, people who share our deep and abiding passion for all things bibliophilic, people who believe in the preservation and dissemination of knowledge. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. Nov 15, 20 as the first printed book in america, the bay psalm book was an early harbinger of american independence.

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 translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some of the tunes to which they were sung. 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. Bay psalme book article about bay psalme book by the. What you need to know about the bay psalm book christianity. In 1638, the first printing press was imported to the massachusetts bay colony and a group of local religious leadersincluding, it is thought. Old hundred from the bay psalm book 1640 margaret dodd. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at a. 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. Publication date 1903 topics bible, psalters, hymns, english publisher new york. Il bay psalm book salterio della baia del massachussetts e il nome con cui e conosciuto. 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 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.

Nov 25, 20 today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. Bay psalm preface, page format this book as a bible. The first book written and printed in the new world, the bay psalm book holds a unique place in our cultural and religious history. Some of the functionality of the psalms explorer requires the lexham hebrew bible. The communal singing of the psalms from the bay psalm book served to instill a strong sense of unity among puritans of the day. Join david redden director, special projects, and selby kiffer senior specialist, special. A dynamic display transforms your research into an engaging experienceshowing you the psalms from the highest level to the smallest detail. When one considers the difficulties of mere existence during this time, a mere 20 years after the first arrivals in plymouth in 1620, the magnitude of the effort and. Bay psalm book being a facsimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, in new england in. Heath anthology of american literaturethe bay psalm book. Richard mather and a group of his fellow new england clergy transcribed biblical psalms into metered verse.

In it one sees the first music printed in the british colonies. A copy belonging to bostons old south church will be auctioned by sothebys on nov. Jun 11, 2018 the communal singing of the psalms from the bay psalm book served to instill a strong sense of unity among puritans of the day. This is what the puritans would have sung in their churches amid the threatening. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in north america for englishspeaking colonists. The real origins of belief in jesus divine naturea response to bart d. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. 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. 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 whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated in to english metre 1640 also known as the bay psalm book was the first booklength publication in. He studied at oxford, began preaching, and was ordained in 1620. The main thing you need to know right now about the bay psalm book is that a copy of it is up for public sale for the first time since 1947. In 1640, just 20 years after the mayflower landed at plymouth rock, they printed 1700 copies in cambridge.

Bay psalm book article about bay psalm book by the free. 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 work, entitled the whole booke of palsmes faithfully translated into english metre, was published in seventeen hundred copies, of which only eleven survivefive complete and the others lacking a varying. The first book printed in british north america is expected to set a world record at auction. Outside the puritan sphere, congregations relied mostly upon the old version, the most popular english psalm book of the time. The volume was the bay psalm booka literary monument of the cultural and religious aspirations of the early settlers of the country.

The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. The bay psalm book was the collaborative project of over twelve leading puritan divines and the first publishing venture of the massachusetts 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. Evans, and other top scholars respond to this latest challenge to orthodox christianity. A facsimile, with an introduction by diarmaid macculloch is published by bodleian library, university of oxford. Nov 27, 20 the bay psalm book is the first known book to be printed in what is now the united states.

The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. In the 1700s, many churches fought over whether to allow new humaninspired hymns into their worship. 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. Day 10 my time in goettingen has been very profitable thus far. Yea though in valley of deaths shade i walk none ill ill fear. Psalm 23 and the bay psalm book the music that shaped. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book the singing of psalms, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody.

It was both the first book printed in the colonies and it was also the first book entirely written in the colonies. The bay psalm book is a very important piece of history. Psalm 23 bay psalm book scriptures good books free. The first book printed in what later became the united states of america is expected to set a world record at auction on tuesday. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at. 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. Psalters can be illuminated with miniatures and decorated initials, and psalters, also known as psalteriums. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. It was the first book printed in british north america. The bay psalm book is the first known book to be printed in what is now the united states.

The bay psalm book the most expensive book in the world. Bay psalm book in metre 1640 logos bible software forums. However, its production, just 20 years after the pilgrims arrival at plymouth, massachusetts, represents a considerable achievement. W4r from the harvard copy of the bay psalm book, showing a contemporary emendation to psalm 87, verse 6. The puritan divines of the massachusetts bay colony set out to produce a translation from the hebrew that was reflective of their unique brand of calvinism and more. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance.

Today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. How to read the psalms is a book for all those who long to better understand these mirrors of the soul. The whole booke of psalmes, or the bay psalm book, as it is now known, is expected to sell for. Written by richard mather mather, richard, 15961669, british puritan clergyman in north america, b. The bay psalm book of 1640 was the first book printed in america.

Courtesy, houghton library, harvard university vault stc 2738 3. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. The puritan suspicion of human language as decayed or corrupted imitations of the logos pervades the bay psalm book. 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. The first book printed in british north america, commonly known as the bay psalm book. 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 celebration of this book is the impetus for the librarys exhibition. Ive carefully checked the psalms text against two different scans for accuracy but wont admit to perfection. A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in cambridge.

Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm 69, verse 23 see page 39. Popular title of the first book produced by englishspeaking american authors on a britishnorth american press. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. It presented literal translations of old testament psalms in rhymed meter and was used in nearly every puritan congregation in massachusetts.

In the logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. 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. 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. The singing of psalmes, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. The rare book will be auctioned by sothebys, new york on 26 nov. When one considers the difficulties of mere existence during this time, a mere 20 years after the first arrivals in. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated in to english metre 1640 also known as the bay psalm book was the first booklength publication in the north american colonies. The bay psalm book had been compiled by a group of new england divines and was employed in nearly every puritan church of the massachusetts bay colony. This book, with which the pilgrims literally sang their praises to god, presents a translation of the psalms from hebrew, transposed. The bay psalm book 1640 and the new england primer 1683. Krummel in 1698, the boston printers bartholomew green and john allen brought out a ninth edition of the bay psalm book. The title page of the bay psalms found within this logos personal book may be used as a book cover. The bay psalm book is a book of many firststhe first englishlanguage book in north america, the first book of american poetry, and the first instance in a long and vital history of printing in america.

But he upon jehovahs law doth set his whole delight. The bay psalm book is a religious and cultural manifesto of the puritan fathers and a towering icon of the founding of the united states. 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. 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 book is considered to have been the work of christian reformers seeking a. The bay psalm book was the first book to be printed in north america, twenty years after the arrival of the pilgrims in massachusetts. Stark old colonial american version of psalm 100, from the massachusetts bay colony bay psalm book of 1640. The founders of the massachusetts bay colony came to the new world seeking religious freedom, and their first publication was a hymnal. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english. Sign up to receive the book in your inbox daily at s. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. The bay psalm book is a key artifact in understanding the beliefs and practices of pilgrims, and the importance of music therein. This psalter was a new translation begun in 1636 by a group of puritan divines richard mather, john eliot, and. It was published in cambridge, massachusetts, by the puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. As the first printed book in america, the bay psalm book was an early harbinger of american independence. The bay psalm book is valued not only as an object of extreme.

I have scanned or photographed most of the necessary. The bay psalm book, printed just twenty years after the pilgrims arrival. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance, sale. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in the colonies and the first book printed in english in the new world. The 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book. Translated by richard mather, john eliot, and thomas weld, among. The 1700 copies of the first edition provided puritans with a plain and familiar translation designed to represent more faithfully the hebrew psalms than did the version used by the. Last week, bostons old south church voted 274 to sell one of its two remaining copies of the 1640 bay psalm bookone of the most historic volumes in american religious history. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day, it included a dissertation on the lawfulness and. This collection of psalm texts, rather than the bible itself, was the first volume published in the new world. 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.