Nov 25, 20 today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. When one considers the difficulties of mere existence during this time, a mere 20 years after the first arrivals in. None of us is able to make our own lifelet alone the whole worldas it should be. Supervised by richard mather, thomas weld and john eliot. The bay psalm book sale view auction details, bid, buy and collect the various books, manuscripts and artwork at sothebys art auction. Bay psalm book being a facsimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, in new england in. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Revised by richard lyon and henry dunster the first president of harvard in 1651, and three more times in the 1700s once by cotton mather, the bay psalm book was widely used until it was supplanted in the eighteenth century by psalters written by nahum tate and nicholas brady 1696, by isaac watts 1719, and by john and charles wesley 1737. Richard mather and a group of his fellow new england clergy transcribed biblical psalms into metered verse. Dec 04, 20 a list of editions of the bay psalm book compiled by wilberforce eames, 1885. The bay psalm book preface the singing of psalms breathes out nothing but holy harmony and melody. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. The first book printed in what later became the united states of america is expected to set a world record at auction on tuesday. 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.
The bay psalm book, formally titled the whole book of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre 1640, was the first book printed on angloamerican soil. 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. 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. It was the first book printed in british north america. A virtual reconstruction of the new worlds first englishlanguage book ian christiemiller, wilberforce eames and kevin cattrell. The bay psalm book preface first reformed presbyterian. The digital bay psalm book gives scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts alike a rich and intimate experience of the book. Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm 69, verse 23 see page 39. Those seeking further information about the bay psalm book, its subsequent editions and various copies, would be well advised to consult eames 1885 bibliography a list of editions of the bay psalm book or new england version of the psalms. The bay psalm book, printed just twenty years after the pilgrims arrival. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english. The bay psalm book 1640 and the new england primer 1683.
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 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 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book. 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. Psalm 23 bay psalm book scriptures good books free. However, the psalms are popular for private devotion among many protestants and still used in. A2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing thomas princes annotations of variant readings from the 1647 reprint edition. 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. It was the first book turned out by a printing press that had been shipped over from england. This book, with which the pilgrims literally sang their praises to god. 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. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at a.
Today we come to the end of our study of the fourth book of the psalms, the psalms that run from psalm 90 to psalm 106, and we come to a great long psalm which majors on repentance. 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. Psalm singing continued to be considered an important. At points it seems he is raving and we are perhaps encouraged to believe that maybe he is the real madman of the book s title. Heath anthology of american literaturethe 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. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. The bay psalm book is valued not only as an object of extreme. If you have your bibles, id invite you to turn with me to psalm 106. Bay psalm book article about bay psalm book by the free. The first book printed in north america was a collection of psalm settings, the bay psalm book 1640. Gods guidance in our work psalm 25 book 2 psalms 4272 gods presence in the midst of disaster psalm 46 anxiety when unscrupulous people succeed psalms 49, 50, 52, 62 book 3 psalms 7389 the workplace consequences of personal failings psalm 73 the economic consequences of national wrongdoings psalm 81, 85. The whole booke of psalmes, or the bay psalm book, as it is now known, is expected to sell for.
The bay psalm book was the first book printed in the colonies and the first book printed in english in the new world. This collection of psalm texts, rather than the bible itself, was the first volume published in the new world. Written by richard mather mather, richard, 15961669, british puritan clergyman in north america, b explanation of bay psalme book. Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at. The founders of the massachusetts bay colony came to the new world seeking religious freedom, and their first publication was a hymnal. In 1638, the first printing press was imported to the massachusetts bay colony and a grou. Experts have confirmed that it is the first ever bound book published and printed in america. Nov 27, 20 the bay psalm book is the first known book to be printed in what is now the united states. We suffer, and we cannot shield those we love from suffering.
Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day, it included a dissertation on the lawfulness and. He studied at oxford, began preaching, and was ordained in 1620. Jean ferguson carr classroom issues and strategies. The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use. Written by richard mather mather, richard, 15961669, british puritan clergyman in north america, b. In recent years, a new generation of scholars has returned to the book, seeing it from fresh perspectivesas a social document, for example, and as a physical artifact of early american life in the massachusetts bay area. Translated directly from hebrew into english, the bay psalm book was printed in cambridge, massachusetts, in 1640, less than twenty years after the mayflower left plymouth, england.
The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. 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. Cambridge university press 97805215425 the new cambridge history of the bible edited by euan cameron index more information in this web service cambridge. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance, sale. Bay psalm book, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america. Digital bay psalm book university of alabama press. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day. Book 4 psalms 90106 bible commentary theology of work.
Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book the singing of psalms, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. Tom ruprecht longing to belong saira shah an american childhood annie dillard. The bay psalm book is older and now rarer than audubons catalogue of fowl. Krummel in 1698, the boston printers bartholomew green and john allen brought out a ninth edition of the bay psalm book. Neither cottons essay nor the poems have been attended to by modern critics. Rubensteins copy, on loan to the library for this exhibition, were at originally part of the historic old south church library in boston. Nov 16, 20 the bay psalm book was the first book printed in the colonies and the first book printed in english in the new world. 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. 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. It was published in cambridge, massachusetts, by the puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony.
The library of congress copy of the bay psalm book and david m. Choose from 123 different sets of english 1121 flashcards on quizlet. The bay psalm book is a key artifact in understanding the beliefs and practices of pilgrims, and the importance of music therein. Preface to the bay psalm book 1640 songs of the puritans. These two copies of the text are together for the first time since they were separated long ago. Dec 03, 2012 the bay psalm book is a key artifact in understanding the beliefs and practices of pilgrims, and the importance of music therein.
A list of editions of the bay psalm book compiled by wilberforce eames, 1885. 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 singing of psalmes, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. The first known example in what is now the united states was a simple printed label created by stephen daye, the massachusetts bay colony printer of the 1642 bay psalm book. Music had been printed in the new world as early as the 1540s in mexican service books, nearly a. The bay psalm book is a very important piece of history. Book 4 of psalms places the brokenness of the worldincluding human mortalityin the context of gods sovereignty. 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. Book 2 psalms 4272 bible commentary theology of work. Bay psalm book, common hymnal of the massachusetts bay colony. The bay psalm book 1640 the new england primer 1683. Music library and information science american music hymns publishing music publishing music, american publishing industry.
Psalm 23 bay psalm book scriptures good books free beta. 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. In it one sees the first music printed in the british colonies. Bay psalme book article about bay psalme book by the free. The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. It was the first book printed in english in the americas and is considered one of the most historic volumes in american religious history. A copy belonging to bostons old south church will be auctioned by sothebys on nov.
The madman of bergerac begins very strongly but then it falls into a curious stasis in which maigret directs operations from his bed in a hotel. 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 communal singing of the psalms from the bay psalm book served to instill a strong sense of unity among puritans of the day. To the chief musician, a psalm of david 1 the heavens do declare the majesty of god. The book became popularly known as the bay psalm book, named after the massachusetts bay colony in which its translatorsamong them the ministers john cotton and richard matherlived. Bergerac series 5 primary works 5 total works jim bergerac, a detective sergeant in the bureau des etrangers, on the island of jersey in the english channel, in these novelization of the bbc tv series. A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in cambridge. 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. Bay psalm book, the article about bay psalm book, the by. An american childhood calling home in too deep saira shah. 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, as it is known, is essentially sacred text to be sung during the liturgy. Bergerac series by andrew saville goodreads share book. The puritan divines of the massachusetts bay colony set out to produce a translation from the hebrew that was reflective.
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