The bay psalm book 2

The bay psalm book, as it is known, is essentially sacred text to be sung during the liturgy. Adopted by nearly every congregation in the massachusetts bay colony, a revised and enlarged edition. Second, it uses two rather obscure hebrew terms in the superscriptions of almost half of these psalms. The first book written and printed in the new world, the bay psalm book holds a unique place in our cultural and religious history. The bay psalm book was the first book to be printed in north america, twenty years after the arrival of the pilgrims in massachusetts. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance. Bay psalme book article about bay psalme book by the. This second book of psalms psalms 4272 has a few unique features.

Thats a wrap the battered bay psalm book is just 6in by 5in, riddled with printing errors and poorly bound. 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 accompanied by a companion volume the enigma of the bay psalm book by zoltan haraszti, shelved in slipcase. 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 bay psalm book of 1640 was the first book printed in america. 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.

Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. Bay psalm book the earliest book known to have been printed in english in the british north american colonies. 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. Muse vain things people do 2 kings of the earth do set themselves, princes consult also. The bay psalm book, printed just twenty years after the pilgrims arrival. 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 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 book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. The bay psalm book being a facsimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, in new england in 1640. Bay psalm book article about bay psalm book by the free.

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. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. The bay psalm book played a central role in both public services and domestic devotions for over a century, since puritans. The new england primer offered every child and apprentice the chance to learn to read the catechism and a. The mystique of the bay psalm book rare books, book. 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 bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book the singing of psalms, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. 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. 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. Bay psalm book in metre 1640 logos bible software forums. Bay psalm book wikimili, the best wikipedia reader.

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. 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. Psalm 4272 voice book two this second book of psalms. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english.

Published 1903 by prepared for the new england society in the city of new york in new york. The bay psalm book richard mather, john eliot, thomas. The bay psalm book has the distinction of being the first book published in british america. 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. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. First printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts, the bay psalm book was the first book printed in colonialist america. The founders of the massachusetts bay colony came to the new world seeking religious freedom, and their first publication was a hymnal. The mystique of the bay psalm book this is the auction catalogue from 1947the last time a bay psalm book was seen at auction. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. The bay psalm 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.

Bay psalm book last updated march 14, 2020 title page of the copy of the bay psalm book held by the beinecke rare book and manuscript library. As the first printed book in america, the bay psalm book was an early harbinger of american independence. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. The singing of psalmes, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. The introduction, by wilberforce eames, contains a list of the ten copies of the bay psalm book known to. 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 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 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 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. 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. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at. First, it is the only book of the five that contains psalms ascribed to the sons of korah, a group of levite temple singers. 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.