A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in cambridge. The communal singing of the psalms from the bay psalm book served to instill a strong sense of unity among puritans of the day. 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. Some are private prayers, and some are lyrical devices for recalling historical events in israel. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The bay psalm book sale view auction details, bid, buy and collect the various books, manuscripts and artwork at sothebys art auction. 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. Psalm 150 serves as a doxology for the entire collection. Richard mather and a group of his fellow new england clergy transcribed biblical psalms into metered verse. Psalm 23 bay psalm book scriptures good books free. Will you succor and protect him as a brothermana resident of the old bay state. The book was printed in 1640 by stephen daye, a locksmith in cambridge.
Bay psalm book being a facsimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, in new england in. Bay psalm book real title is the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre first book length work to be printed in the british colonies 1640. The first american psalter, the whole book of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre, was produced by the puritans of the massachusetts bay colony beginning in 1640. Dec 02, 20 the bay psalm book began as a liturgical project meant to galvanize the pastoral ministry of a new colony. What you need to know about the bay psalm book christianity. Chapter 4 religious music traditions music 100 with. These two copies of the text are together for the first time since they were separated long ago. 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. Nov 27, 20 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.
Heath anthology of american literaturethe bay psalm book. In its present form, the book of psalms consists of 150 poems divided into five books 141, 4272, 7389, 90106, 107150, the first four of which are marked off by concluding doxologies. Because the bay psalm book published a new translation of the psalms made. For example, in reading the psalms, it is useful to compare the bay psalm book version with those of the king james translation or others, noting the choices. 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.
The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Bay psalm book article about bay psalm book by the free. He studied at oxford, began preaching, and was ordained in 1620. To which of the following does the term lining out most closely relate. They were not to embellish the psalms with their own flights of imagination by adding only rhyme and meter, what was the essential principle that the translators of the bay psalm book were instructed to use. 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. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at. Singing school movement dates, location, format 17201770. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. It was both the first book printed in the colonies and it was also the first book entirely written in the colonies. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. The 1700 copies of the first edition provided puritans with a plain and familiar translation designed to represent more faithfully the hebrew psalms than did the version used by the. The bay psalm book was the first book to be printed in north america, twenty years after the arrival of the pilgrim fathers in massachusetts.
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. First book published in the us date also bay psalm book 1640 term. The bay psalm book began as a liturgical project meant to galvanize the pastoral ministry of a new colony. It was the first book printed in english in the americas and is considered one of the most historic volumes in american religious history. 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. Bay psalme book article about bay psalme book by the.
The singing of psalmes, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. This collection of psalm texts, rather than the bible itself, was the first volume published in the new world. The bay psalm book is a key artifact in understanding the beliefs and practices of pilgrims, and the importance of music therein. The whole booke of psalmes, or the bay psalm book, as it is now known, is expected to sell for. This summary of the book of psalms provides information about the title, author s, date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the book of psalms. Written by richard mather mather, richard, 15961669, british puritan clergyman in north america, b. The bay psalm book, as it is known, is essentially sacred text to be sung during the liturgy. The book is considered to have been the work of christian reformers seeking a. 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 is a religious and cultural manifesto of the puritan fathers and a towering icon of the founding of the united states. The library of congress copy of the bay psalm book and david m. The digital bay psalm book gives scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts alike a rich and intimate experience of the book.
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. 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 1640 and the new england primer 1683. In the new england primer, what subject matter was used in the couplets to teach. 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. The puritan divines of the massachusetts bay colony set out to produce a translation from the hebrew that was reflective. Study 78 literary analysis flashcards from angel m. The the first book printed in north america, north of mexico, was the whole booke of psalmes, edited by richard mather, john eliot and others. The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. It did not include music, but recommended the use of the tunes in. Bay psalme book article about bay psalme book by the free. 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. 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. The bay psalm book is a very important piece of history.
Some are private prayers, and some are lyrical devices for recalling historical events in israels history. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. The book was printed in 1640 by stephen daye, a locksmith in cambridge, massachusetts. 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 singing of psalms, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. 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. A virtual reconstruction of the new worlds first englishlanguage book ian christiemiller, wilberforce eames and kevin cattrell. The first book to be published in british north america was. 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. 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 and the new england primer were, next to the bible, the most commonly owned books in seventeenthcentury new england. Rubensteins copy, on loan to the library for this exhibition, were at originally part of the historic old south church library in boston. In 1638, the first printing press was imported to the massachusetts bay colony and a grou. 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. 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, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. The bay psalm book was the collaborative project of over twelve leading puritan divines and the first publishing venture of the massachusetts colony. How many years was the bay psalm book commonly used in new england churches. 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 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book.
Today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. The bay psalm book, printed just twenty years after the pilgrims arrival. Written by richard mather mather, richard, 15961669, british puritan clergyman in north america, b explanation of bay psalme book. Chapter 4 religious music traditions music 100 with buck. The bay psalm book 1640 the new england primer 1683. Some of the psalms in the book of psalms are hymns to be sung by a congregation, and songs of ascent to be sung by pilgrims approaching the temple.
This book, with which the pilgrims literally sang their praises to god. Psalm 23 and the bay psalm book the music that shaped. 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 bay psalm book is valued not only as an object of extreme. Psalm tunes were only used in church and never at social gatherings f the bay psalm book was created because a large number of music readers desired notated music. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book the singing of psalms, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody.
The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. Bay psalm book, common hymnal of the massachusetts bay colony. Not only is the text in the public domain, the book can be viewed in pdf form. Bay psalm book, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america. Known as the bay psalm book, it was also the first book printed in english in the new world. The titles psalms and psalter come from the septuagint the prechristian greek translation of the ot, where they originally referred to. Nov 25, 20 today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. Our new desktop experience was built to be your music destination. It was the first book printed in british north america. Study 11 chapter 4 religious music traditions flashcards from queenann m.
The pierpont morgan library, new york in the case of six psalms51, 85, 100, 117, 3, 8the massachusetts bay translators provided versions in both long and common meters, introducing the alternative. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english. 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 effort and. 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. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new. Together, they served to disseminate puritan values for over a hundred years. After all, i shall read your book with trembling for you. Stephen daye issues the bay psalm book, the first book. 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. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at a. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day, it included a dissertation on the lawfulness and. Titlepage of a 1633 edition of thomas ravenscrofts psalter, the tunes of which are referenced by the translators of the bay psalm book.