The bay psalm book 2

Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. The first edition of the bay psalm book to include music was the ninth edition, of 1698, which included tunes from john playfords a breefe introduction to the skill of musick london, 1654. 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, 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. The bay psalm book of 1640 was the first book printed in america. The bay psalm book accompanied by a companion volume the enigma of the bay psalm book by zoltan haraszti, shelved in slipcase. 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 richard mather, john eliot, thomas. The bay psalm book, printed just twenty years after the pilgrims arrival. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. As the first printed book in america, the bay psalm book was an early harbinger of american independence. The bay psalm book has the distinction of being the first book published in british america. The introduction, by wilberforce eames, contains a list of the ten copies of the bay psalm book known to. Until quite recently american scholars unaware that a printing press was operating in mexico city well before the bay colony was founded called it the first book printed in the new world. It was the joint product of richard mather, founder of that distinguished family of new england divines, thomas welde and john eliot, the missionary to the indians. Bay psalm book article about bay psalm book by the free. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. Adopted by nearly every congregation in the massachusetts bay colony, a revised and enlarged edition. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america.

Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. 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 bay psalm book addressed this warning by translating the hebrew psalms of david into idiomatic, metrical english to be sung by the entire congregation both in church and at home. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. The more accurate news stories describe the bay psalm book as the first book printed in english in the new world. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. The bay psalm book played a central role in both public services and domestic devotions for over a century, since puritans. Published 1903 by prepared for the new england society in the city of new york in new york. A literal translation of the psalms into verse suitable for singing. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance. Bay psalm book the earliest book known to have been printed in english in the british north american colonies. It was the first book printed in british north america. 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.

Written by richard mather mather, richard, 15961669, british puritan clergyman in north america, b. The mystique of the bay psalm book rare books, book. The bay psalm book, as it is known, is essentially sacred text to be sung during the liturgy. Psalm 23 bay psalm book, 1698, by john playford 1623. Bay psalm book, common hymnal of the massachusetts bay colony. Richard mather and a group of his fellow new england clergy transcribed biblical psalms into metered verse. Principally written by john eliot, thomas welde, and richard mather, these psalms transitioned from a literal translation to a more aesthetically pleasing metered version. Second, it uses two rather obscure hebrew terms in the superscriptions of almost half of these psalms. The singing of psalmes, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm 69, verse 23 see page 39. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts.

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 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. Compiled by john eliot, richard mather, and thomas weld, and printed by stephen day at cambridge, massachusetts in 1640, it was intended to give a more literal translation of the hebrew psalms than that of the king james version. Thats a wrap the battered bay psalm book is just 6in by 5in, riddled with printing errors and poorly bound. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book the singing of psalms, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. Bay psalm book in metre 1640 logos bible software forums. Courtesy of the old south church in boston w4r from the harvard copy of the bay psalm book, showing a contemporary emendation to psalm 87, verse 6. The first book written and printed in the new world, the bay psalm book holds a unique place in our cultural and religious history.

Bay psalme book article about bay psalme book by the. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. 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 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 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. Muse vain things people do 2 kings of the earth do set themselves, princes consult also. This second book of psalms psalms 4272 has a few unique features. Psalm 4272 voice book two this second book of psalms. 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. First, it is the only book of the five that contains psalms ascribed to the sons of korah, a group of levite temple singers. The founders of the massachusetts bay colony came to the new world seeking religious freedom, and their first publication was a hymnal. Heath anthology of american literaturethe bay psalm 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.