Ndigital bay psalm book

In 1640, the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre was published in cambridge. Psalm 150 praise ye the lord satb jan 1, 1964 sheet music. 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. Ian christiemiller, with a foreword by kevin cattrell. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. Bay psalm book from the american imprint collection at the library of congress. It was probably preceded by a small singlesheet production known as the oath of a freeman, of which no copy is extant. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america. Digital bay psalm book university of alabama press. The whole booke of psalmes, also known as the bay psalm book, is the first book printed in north america. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. 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.

The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. It was the first book printed in british north america. It holds the distinction of being the first book printed in america colonial america and has a bit of an interesting story, including being the highest selling book ever at auction. Bay psalm book, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america. 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. Billionaire david rubenstein buys colonial bay psalm book. 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 bay psalm book was printed on a press that had been sent over with 240 pounds of paper and one case of type. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance. Click on image or caption above to see image in the zoom viewer.

Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at. This collection of psalm texts, rather than the bible itself, was the first volume published in the new world. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre 1640, familiarly called the bay psalm book, was the first book published in angloamerica, which underlines the importance that singing played in puritan devotion. The bay psalm book, as it has come to be known, consists of a substantial introduction summarizing the creators philosophy and intentions. The congregationalist puritans who emigrated to massachusetts bay in search of religious freedom quickly set about to translate and produce a version of the book of psalms that was a. Richard mather and a group of his fellow new england clergy transcribed biblical psalms into metered verse. The founders of the massachusetts bay colony came to the new world seeking religious freedom, and their first publication was a hymnal. The preface is usually attributed to mather, but this is disputed by zoltan haraszti, who attributes it to john cotton. Principally written by john eliot, thomas welde, and richard mather, these psalms transitioned from a literal translation to a more aesthetically pleasing metered version.

First printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts, the bay psalm book was the first book printed in colonialist america. 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 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. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day, it included a dissertation on the lawfulness and. The bay psalm book, which is the first book printed in what is now the united states, comes from the old south church in boston, one of two copies of the book in its collection. It was the first book printed in english in the americas and is considered one of the most historic volumes in american religious history. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book the singing of psalms, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. 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 translations are not particularly polished, and. The mystique of the bay psalm book rare books, book. Psalm 23 and the bay psalm book the music that shaped. 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. 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. The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Adopted by nearly every congregation in the massachusetts bay colony, a revised and enlarged edition. It will go on display in libraries across the united states. The first book printed in british north america, commonly known as the bay psalm book. The library of congress copy of the bay psalm book and david m. The edition of this facsimile reprint of the bay psalm book is limited to. Bay psalm book wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. From the bay psalm book psalms 47 clap hands, all people. The bay psalm book by michael inman, curator, rare book division, stephen a.

If youve ever dug into the puritans in any manner, youve come across something called the bay psalm book. A virtual reconstruction of the new worlds first englishlanguage book. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. 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 literal than the most popular psalter. Customers who viewed this item also viewed these digital items.

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. 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. A2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing thomas princes annotations of variant readings from the 1647 reprint edition. Psalm 23 bay psalm book scriptures good books free. Mlm405 640b request the physical item to view in our reading room description. 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. Translated by richard mather, john eliot, and thomas weld, among others. 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. The digital bay psalm book ian christiemiller, wilberforce eames, kevin cattrell published by the university of alabama press christiemiller, ian, et al. A virtual reconstruction of the new worlds first englishlanguage book created by ian christiemiller introduction by wilberforce eames.

Better known as the bay psalm book, this work is significant in that it was the first book printed in british north america. New york, 12 april 20 on 26 november 20, sothebys new york will auction one of the finest surviving copies of the bay psalm book the first book printed in what is now the united states of america. Bay psalm book the whole booke of psalmes first edition. These two copies of the text are together for the first time since they were separated long ago. Harasztis, the enigma of the bay psalm book, 1956, p. 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. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The bay psalm book, as it is known, is essentially sacred text to be sung during the liturgy. As the first printed book in america, the bay psalm book was an early harbinger of american independence. Better known as the bay psalm book, this work is significant in that it was the first book. Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm. The bay psalm book, printed in cambridge, massachusetts, by stephen daye in 1640, was the first book printed by the newly established cambridge press.

Redden said the workmanship was amateurish it was, after all, the first book published in the colonies and only the third item to come off the press. In this format, users are able to zoom in to examine each individual page, the quality of the. Top american libraries canadian libraries universal library community texts project gutenberg biodiversity heritage library childrens library. Rubensteins copy, on loan to the library for this exhibition, were at originally part of the historic old south church library in boston. 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. Het is een berijmde vertaling in het engels van het boek psalmen. The digital bay psalm book gives scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts alike a rich and intimate experience of the book. The 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book.