First printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts, the bay psalm book was the first book printed in colonialist america. Most of our transcriptions of the bay psalm book will use modernized american english, since our main purpose is the pragmatic one of wanting to encourage and aid the actual singing of the psalms. Psalm 98 bay psalm book, 1640, by thomas ravenscroft ca. The bay psalm book, as it has come to be known, consists of a. The bay psalm book the bay psalm book, wilberforce eames the bay psalm book. Cewebity peaceful pathways shaye tacker slate 52 nystesolpodcasts podcast environment. The founders of the massachusetts bay colony came to the new world seeking religious freedom, and their first publication was a hymnal. 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. Lastly, because some hebrew words have a more full and emphatic signification than any one english word can or does sometimes express, hence we have done that sometimes which faithful translators may do, viz.
As a locus of negotiation between the new england leaders, the colonists they were overseeing, and the authorities and colleagues they had left behind in england, the bay psalm book. The first book written and printed in the new world, the bay psalm book holds a unique place in our cultural and religious history. 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 of 1640 was the first book printed in america. 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. 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 reformed theology at. Bay psalm book, the article about bay psalm book, the by. Not only is the text in the public domain, the book can be viewed in pdf form. Russell wiggins, who served as editor of the washington post, united states. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english.
The bay psalm book is a very important piece of history. 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. Preface to the bay psalm book 1640 songs of the puritans. 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. 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. Principally written by john eliot, thomas welde, and richard mather, these psalms transitioned from a literal translation to a more aesthetically pleasing metered version. Being a fascimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, in new england in 1640, wilberforce eames. 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. 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. Forum discussions with the word s bay psalm book in the title. Manual, hoods history of music in new england, and many reliable books. A facsimile reprint of the first edition of 1640 the facsimile notes on the reproduction.
Psalm 23 and the bay psalm book the music that shaped. 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 word for word faithfulness to the hebrew text, to the more literary work of george sandys, who wrote for private devotion rather than. Please note that there are no folios in the bay psalm book facsimile. What you need to know about the bay psalm book christianity. The bay psalm book, printed just twenty years after the pilgrims arrival. The 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay. 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. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some of the tunes to which they were sung. The bay psalm book, as it is known, is essentially sacred text to be sung during the liturgy.
Better known as the bay psalm book, this work is significant in that it was the first book printed in british north america. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance, sale. In 1638, the first printing press was imported to the massachusetts bay colony and a grou. The bay psalm book 1640 and the new england primer 1683. The bay psalm book and the new england primer were, next to the bible, the most commonly owned books in seventeenthcentury new england. Together, they served to disseminate puritan values for over a hundred years. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. Bay psalm book the whole booke of psalmes first edition. The book is a psalter, or a volume containing metrical translations of the book of psalms. The bay psalm book was the first book known to be printed in british north america. In 1640 he printed some 1,700 copies of the 300page whole book of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre, commonly known as the bay psalm book.
Digital bay psalm book university of alabama press. A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in cambridge. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. A virtual reconstruction of the new worlds first englishlanguage book ian christiemiller, wilberforce eames and kevin cattrell.
A revised and enlarged edition, under the title of the psalms hymns and spiritual songs of the old and. Richard mather and a group of his fellow new england clergy transcribed biblical psalms into metered verse. A2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing thomas princes annotations of variant readings from the 1647 reprint edition. 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. As such, puritans developed the practice of lining out the psalmhaving a deacon or clerk read each line of text before it was sung.
In 1640, the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english. The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. 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 two psalters most widely used were the bay psalm book 1640 and sternhold and hopkinss whole book of psalms the old version, 1562. 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. 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.
Let bidding begin for the bay psalm book from 1640. 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. Rubensteins copy, on loan to the library for this exhibition, were at originally part of the historic old south church library in boston. Bay psalm book wordreference english dictionary, questions, discussion and forums. Psalm 23 bay psalm book, 1698, by john playford 16231686. Courtesy, houghton library, harvard university vault stc 2738 3. 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 singing of psalms, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody.
Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day, it included a dissertation on the lawfulness and. In a few cases we will also provide a version that retains the 1640 spelling to give a flavor of how they looked in the original. 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. Those settings are recommended for use in the bay psalm book, so that is what i have done for psalm 98.
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. Dec 03, 2012 the bay psalm books 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. 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 bay psalm book played a central role in both public services and domestic devotions for over a century, since puritans. 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 book, writes horton davies, was the first book to be printed in.
Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book the singing of psalms, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. The library of congress copy of the bay psalm book and david m. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. A copy of the 1640 bay psalm book is found among his own rare book collection at his posh house.
This little book of 1640 was precursor to lexington and concord, and, ultimately, to american political independence. It was both the first book printed in the colonies and it was also the first book entirely written in the colonies. 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. Being a fascimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, in. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. 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. Adopted by nearly every congregation in the massachusetts bay colony, a revised and enlarged edition. The book went through several editions and remained in use for well over a century. Certainly he understates the case with regard to the bay psalm book of 1640 which uses jah only once in the entire text of the psalms.
The bay psalm book, as it has come to be known, consists of a substantial. The 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book. The bay psalm books 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. 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. 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. Jonathan dehaven, the director of the library of congress rare books and special collections section is found dead under suspicious circumstances. Psalm 23 bay psalm book, 1698, by john playford 1623. Sing to god, to his name sing prayse, extou him that doth ride on skies, by his name iah, before his face joyful. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. Being a facsimile reprint of the first edition, wilberforce eames the bay psalm book. The first edition of the resulting bay psalm book was printed in cambridge, massachusetts, in 1640, and sothebys will auction one of the 11. 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. Although the 1640 bay psalm book garners most of the attention from the.
Both books are presented in a single hardcover volume. It was the first book printed in british north america. The library of congress bay psalm book was the last copy remaining in private hands, and it was given to the. The psalms thus turned into meetre were printed at cambridge, in the year 1640.
The book also features a dodgy rare book dealer, wily collectors and librarians. The bay psalm book sale view auction details, bid, buy and collect. The bay psalm book was printed on a press that had been sent over with 240 pounds of paper and one case of. Jean ferguson carr classroom issues and strategies.
Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america. Supervised by richard mather, thomas weld and john eliot. Bay psalm book article about bay psalm book by the free. 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. These two copies of the text are together for the first time since they were separated long ago. Let bidding begin for the bay psalm book from 1640 the. Heath anthology of american literaturethe bay psalm book. Bay psalm book was not only the first book printed in america, and the first book written in america. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance. 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.
Jun 15, 2007 the bay psalm book was the common hymnal of the massachusetts bay colony. With it, new england declared its independence from the church of england. Let the word of god dwell plenteously in you in all wisdome, teaching, and. 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 modest book served the larger purpose of the colonyto live within the reformed church. 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. W4r from the harvard copy of the bay psalm book, showing a contemporary emendation to psalm 87, verse 6. Nov 25, 20 in 1640 he printed some 1,700 copies of the 300page whole book of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre, commonly known as the bay psalm book. This new england psalmbook, being printed by the colony at massachusetts bay.
The first work published in the puritan colonies was the bay psalm book 1640, and the whole effort of the divines who wrote furiously to set forth their viewsamong them roger williams and thomas hooker was to defend and promote visions of the religious state. 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. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america is. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english. Bay psalm book in metre 1640 logos bible software forums. Elegance, fidelity rather then poetry, in translating the hebrew words into english. Recently, the new york public library digitized in its entirety one of its great treasures, the 1640 printing of the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. The bay psalm book 1640 the new england primer 1683. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at a. Bay psalm book, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america.
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