The title is derived from the greek translation, psalmoi. Because the bay psalm book published a new translation of the psalms made in north america, it was also the first book written in north america, north of mexico. He studied at oxford, began preaching, and was ordained in 1620. The language of psalm 1 and psalm 23 from the bay psalm book can best be described as a. The whole booke of psalmes universally known as the bay psalm book was produced in the virtual wilderness of massachusetts bay colony by the congregationalist puritans who left england in search of religious freedom. As the first printed book in america, the bay psalm book was an early harbinger of american independence. In 1640, the bay psalm book, a new translation of the psalms into metrical english verse, was produced by richard mather and john eliot for the massachusetts bay colony. Psalm 23 is the 23rd psalm of the book of psalms, generally known in english by its first verse, in the king james version, the lord is my shepherd.
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. Nov 21, 20 the book, on display at sothebys manhattan headquarters, opened to psalm 23, is physically unimposing. Nov 27, 20 the bay psalm book visited houstons bayou bend in september for a oneday exhibition. This exhibit explores the early history of our nation through a remarkable selection of maps, texts, and other historical documents from the rubenstein librarys collections and the private map collection of michael stone, t84. It was the first book printed in british north america. 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 in 17thcentury new england 23 freshman at the college. The book of psalms is the third section of the hebrew bible, 1 and a book of the christian old testament. Bay psalm book project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Aug 23, 2020 psalm 23 is the 23rd psalm of the book of psalms, generally known in english by its first verse, in the king james version, the lord is my shepherd. A complete book of psalms in metered verse, it was the first book written and printed in colonial america. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new.
The whole booke of psalmes better known as the bay psalm book a new translation by richard mather15961669, thomas mayhew 15931682, and john eliot 16041690, printed by stephen daye 15941668 the first north american printer. Atlas learn more about the world with our collection of regional and country maps. At sabbath meetings of the massachusetts bay churches, they sang psalms without musical accompaniment. The printer, a trained locksmith who arrived with the press, had his idiosyncrasies, including spelling psalm two different ways.
World heritage encyclopedia, the aggregation of the largest online encyclopedias available, and. Of course, the massachusetts bay puritans had psalters in england, and they undoubtedly. 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. Elizabeths place in history began in england, on the day her husband resigned from his pastorate in surrey. The bay psalm book and the new england primer were, next to the bible, the most commonly owned. Brush up on your geography and finally learn what countries are in eastern europe with our maps. A revised and enlarged edition, under the title of the psalms hymns and spiritual songs of the old and. Elizabeth became british americas first book publisher in 1640, using the only printing press in north america. Not until its ninth edition, printed in 1698, were any tunes printed in the bay psalm book.
Nov 27, 20 the copy of the bay psalm book from 1640 that went on the auction block is one of just 11 known copies of the religious volume, said the rev. The bay psalm book, as it is known, is essentially sacred text to be sung during the liturgy. Rubensteins copy, on loan to the library for this exhibition, were at originally part of the. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english. Bay psalm book wikimili, the best wikipedia reader.
A seventh edition of the bay psalm book, the first book. First printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts, the bay psalm book was the first book printed in colonialist america. It will go on display in libraries across the united states. The book, on display at sothebys manhattan headquarters, opened to psalm 23, is physically unimposing. Richard mather and john eliot for the massachusetts. The first book printed in north america was a collection of psalm settings, the bay psalm book 1640. 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. Henry ainsworth was born about 1570, studied at cambridge, and then joined the separatist movement. Richard mather, born 1596, lowton, lancashire, eng. Psalm 23in memoriam jack murraymusic by patrick murraywith sincere gratitude and thanks to. Apr, 20 the 1640 edition of the bay psalm book is the earliest surviving product of the dayes press, and was immediately adopted by nearly every congregation in massachusetts bay hence the volumes familiar name. Apr 01, 2020 though the bay psalm book, published at cambridge in 1640, and revised later, is better known, it is important to remember that ainsworths contribution to the pilgrim church was unique.
Let bidding begin for the bay psalm book from 1640 the new. Provided to youtube by naxos of americathe whole booke of psalmes. 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. A few years after the puritan great migration of 1630 from england to massachusetts bay, the settlers undertook an ambitious project, writing and printing their own book of psalms. A revised and enlarged edition, under the title of the psalms hymns and spiritual songs of the old and new testament, was printed at cambridge in 1651, in an. Jul 23, 2015 the bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in cambridge.
It is worth noting that the bay psalm book s translations of psalms 19, 23, and 107 are anthologized in the library of americas volume of american poetry. Apr 02, 2021 so the bay psalm book was a tool to do a job. The library of congress copy of the bay psalm book and david m. It was for congregational singing, which took place at least three times a week. Psalms into metrical english verse, was produced by. Only 11 copies of the bay psalm book survive in varying degrees of completeness. Psalm 23 and the bay psalm book the music that shaped. The bay psalm book in 17thcentury new england jstor. Psalm 23, low dutch tune richard muenzainsworth, h bay book of psalmes the cooli. The bay psalm book is valued not only as an object of extreme rarity, but also as a symbol of a future nations identity. The bay psalm book renditions of psalm 1 and psalm 23 suggest that the translators a. 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. Nov 20, 20 the whole booke of psalmesuniversally known as the bay psalm book was translated and printed in 1640 in the virtual wilderness of massachusetts bay colony by the congregationalist puritans. Originally published in 1640 as the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre.
The bay psalm book was the first book to be printed in north america, twenty years after the arrival of the pilgrims in massachusetts. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day, it included a dissertation on the lawfulness and. A work written specifically for boys voices by featuring an extended alto range, bay psalm 23 offers cascading melodic lines and comforting harmonies that will delight audiences and performers alike. May 24, 2017 the bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. Stephanie tubiolo and hannah carr not pictured, sopranojacob swi. En route to southebys, bay psalm book traces nations seesaw. They were not like the gutenberg bible, a large, impressive bible for a church or a fine home. The founders of the massachusetts bay colony came to the new world seeking religious freedom, and their first publication was a hymnal. Nancy taylor, senior minister and ceo of bostons old. Principally written by john eliot, thomas welde, and richard mather, these psalms transitioned from a literal translation to a more aesthetically pleasing metered version. 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.
Both the first edition of 1640 and the seventh edition of 1693 were workhorse books. In 1640, the bay psalm book, a new translation of the. Bay psalm book article about bay psalm book by the free. The book of psalms is the third section of the hebrew bible, and a book of the christian old testament. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. The preface to the bay psalm book is a remarkable statement of purpose. Bay psalm book traces nations seesaw religious history. Heath anthology of american literaturethe bay psalm book. Generally represented each verse with one stanza b. Psalm 23 bay psalm book scriptures good books free. The bay psalm book is viewable in its entirety online. Bay psalm book first book printed in massachusetts bay colony 1640.
Bay psalm book, and americas first printing press boston. The digital bay psalm book gives scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts alike a rich and intimate experience of the book. Neither cottons essay nor the poems have been attended to by modern critics. Written by richard mather, john eliot, and thomas weld, it was published in 1640 at cambridge as the whole book of psalms faithfully translated into english metre. One of the most expensive books in the world began its life in the little home elizabeth glover established on crooked lane, massachusetts bay colony. Nov 25, 20 the book, on display at sothebys manhattan headquarters, opened to psalm 23, is physically unimposing. The bay psalm book, formally titled the whole book of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre 1640, was the first book printed on. The bay psalm book, believed to be the first book published in what became the u. En route to sothebys, bay psalm book traces nations seesaw.
Written by richard mather mather, richard, 15961669, british puritan clergyman in north america, b. Stephen daye issues the bay psalm book, the first book written. However, the psalms are popular for private devotion among many protestants and still used in many churches for traditional worship. 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 bay psalm book is a key artifact in understanding the beliefs and practices of pilgrims, and the importance of music therein.
Bju american literature chapter 2 flashcards quizlet. Pilgrim worship from the book of psalms plymouth rock. 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. Nov 16, 20 but the bay psalm book, as it is known, has a special place in bibliophiles hearts, so much so that michael inman, the curator of rare books at the new york public library, said the auction was. American beginnings, featuring the bay psalm book duke. Bay psalm book, common hymnal of the massachusetts bay colony. The bay psalm book 1640 and the new england primer 1683. Psalm 23 bay psalm book scriptures good books free beta. Bay psalm 23, the first work in the bay psalms set, is a delicate reflection on one of the most beloved psalms of all time coupled with a repeating mantra of the word alleluia. En route to southebys, bay psalm book traces nations. En route to sothebys, bay psalm book traces nations. The young man had asked his uncle to send him a fiddle from london. This collection of psalm texts, rather than the bible itself, was the first volume published in the new world. Nov 22, 20 the book, on display at sothebys manhattan headquarters, opened to psalm 23, is physically unimposing.
In that edition, thirteen tunes were added to which the psalms were to be sung, the. About 7 inches high and 4 inches wide, it is largely undecorated. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. On the eve of a glamorous auction of a 1640 bay psalm book, harvard puts its own rare copy. The bay psalm book sale view auction details, bid, buy and collect the various books, manuscripts and artwork at sothebys art auction. Of particular note is an extremely rare copy of americas first book, the whole booke of psalmes 1640, commonly known as the bay psalm book. Let bidding begin for the bay psalm book from 1640 the.
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