Bay psalm book of 1640

The bay psalm book, a facsimile reprint of the first edition of 1640. Nov 06, 2017 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. It was both the first book printed in the colonies and it was also the first book entirely. 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. The bay psalm book is a book of many firststhe first englishlanguage book in north america, the first book of american poetry, and the first instance in a long and vital history of printing in america. Heath anthology of american literaturethe bay psalm book. Bay psalm book wikimili, the best wikipedia reader. Rubenstein said, i appreciate the hard work of jim billington and the library of congress professionals in organizing this exhibition. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day, it included a dissertation on the lawfulness and. The bay psalm book, as it is known, is essentially sacred text to be sung during the liturgy. The reverend jose glover put this into action when. This little book of 1640 was a precursor to lexington and concord, and, ultimately, to american political independence.

A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in cambridge. The 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book. Psalm 23 bay psalm book, 1698, by john playford 16231686. Psalm 98 bay psalm book, 1640, by thomas ravenscroft ca. The first book printed in british north america, 1640 hardcover august 17, 2016 by zoltan haraszti author. The bay psalm book 1640 and the new england primer 1683. With it, new england declared its independence from the church of england. The bay psalm book 1640 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. Apr 12, 2014 for psalm 23 as with the other psalms, the bay psalm book just prints the tune in this case, canterbury with playfords bass line, but in fact, playfords setting is for four voices, and that. Mar 14, 2020 the bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. The bay psalm book was not only the first book printed in america, and the first book written in america. The bay psalm book was printed on a press that had been sent over with 240 pounds of paper and one case of. Dec 11, 2012 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, a facsimile reprint of the first. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. The bay psalm book 1640 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 the north american colonies. The mystique of the bay psalm book rare books, book. The bay psalm book 1640 the new england primer 1683. The translation of biblical psalms the bay psalm book was printed by puritan settlers in cambridge, massachusetts in 1640 and sold at a onelot auction in just minutes by sothebys. The bay psalm book was the common hymnal of the massachusetts bay colony.

Jean ferguson carr classroom issues and strategies. Stephen daye issues the bay psalm book, the first book. Those settings are recommended for use in the bay psalm book, so that is what i have done for psalm 98, setting the bay psalm book lyrics to ravenscrofts harmonization of. Approximately 1,700 copies of the book were printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts, known then as the massachusetts bay colony, and only 11 are known to remain. Chapter 2 examines a selection of these, ranging from the plain style of george wither, whose bid to supplant sternhold and hopkins ran afoul of the stationers monopoly, and the even more prosaic bay psalm book 1640, whose principal concern was wordforword faithfulness to the hebrew text, to the more literary work of george sandys, who wrote for private devotion rather than. Makholm resigned as historian of the old south church in boston when it decided to sell a copy of the bay psalm book. This facsimile of the rare original edition includes a companion volume, the enigma of the bay psalm book, which offers an academic study of the psalters history and contents. Let bidding begin for the bay psalm book from 1640. Bay psalm book in metre 1640 logos bible software forums. Nov 16, 20 let bidding begin for the bay psalm book from 1640.

The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. 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. Provided to youtube by naxos of america the bay book of psalmes. Its going to be far and away the most expensive book ever sold, david. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america is.

The reverend jose glover put this into action when he resigned his post in surrey, england, and set sail for the massachusetts bay colony in 1638 with his family, possessions, and a printing press operation, replete with paper and slightly worn type. It was the first book turned out by a printing press that had been shipped over from england. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. 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, printed in cambridge, massachusetts, by stephen daye in 1640, was the first book printed by the newly established cambridge press. Media in category bay psalm book the following 14 files are in this category, out of 14 total. 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. 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 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. Neither cottons essay nor the poems have been attended to by modern critics. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new york. The first book printed in british north america, 1640 haraszti, zoltan on.

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 first book ever printed in what became the usa is now the worlds most expensive printed book. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day. The first book printed in british north america 1640, hardcover by haraszti, zoltan, isbn 0486805263, isbn 9780486805269, brand new, free shipping in the us the bay psalm book was printed just 20 years after the pilgrims arrival and remained in use for well over a century. 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.

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 puritan divines of the massachusetts bay colony set out to produce a. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america. Better known as the bay psalm book, this work is significant in that it was the first book printed in british north 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. The bay psalm book was printed just 20 years after the pilgrims arrival and remained in use for well over a century. The new paraphrase was so influential that it was first reprinted in 1647 in england.

The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some of the tunes to which they were sung. 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, a facsimile reprint of the first edition of 1640 home. 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. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new.

Mather was the principal author and translator, but was assisted by about 30 other new england ministers. David redden, director of special projects and worldwide chairman of sothebys books department, commented. Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm 69, verse 23 see page 39. Let bidding begin for the bay psalm book from 1640 the new. 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 digital bay psalm book gives scholars, researchers, and enthusiasts alike a rich and intimate experience of the book. Psalm 100 gregg smith singers ainsworth, h bay book of psalmes the. Let bidding begin for the bay psalm book from 1640 the. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. The first book printed in british north america, 1640. Bay psalm book article about bay psalm book by the free. Printing the bay psalm book in 1640 required importing the tools and materials of printing to the new colony. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance, sale.

Both books are presented in a single hardcover volume. Nov 12, 2012 with the reports today wbur, boston globe that the leadership of bostons old south church is considering the sale of one of its two copies of the 1640 bay psalm book, i thought it was worth taking a look at the eleven known copies. Bay psalm book, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america. 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. The bay psalm book, a facsimile reprint of the first edition. 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, formally titled the whole book of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre 1640, was the. Top american libraries canadian libraries universal library community texts project gutenberg biodiversity heritage library childrens library. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance. 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 of 1640 was the first book printed in america.

The bay psalm book and the new england primer were, next to the bible, the most commonly owned books in seventeenthcentury new england. 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. Being a facsimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, in new england in 1640. Most of our transcriptions of the bay psalm book will use modernized american english, since our main purpose is the pragmatic one of wanting to encourage and aid the actual singing of the psalms. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at a.

The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. 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. An american icon, a piece of heroic history it was both the first book printed in the colonies and it was also the first book entirely written in the colonies. Isaiah thomass history of printing in the united states worcester, 1810 includes a catalogue of books printed by stephen day, and it is clear from thomass description of the bay psalm book that this copy was then still owned by william bentley. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. The puritan divines of the massachusetts bay colony set out to produce a translation from the hebrew that was reflective. The edition of this facsimile reprint of the bay psalm book is limited to.

A2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing thomas princes annotations of variant readings from the 1647 reprint edition. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book the singing of psalms, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. Richard mather and a group of his fellow new england clergy transcribed biblical psalms into metered verse. Bay psalm book the whole booke of psalmes first edition. A census and account of copies is given in wilberforce eames introduction to the bay psalm book. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at. 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 psalms in it are metrical translations into english. 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 bay psalm book s importance to american history is more than the first book printed in the country. What you need to know about the bay psalm book christianity. The psalms in metre, faithfully translated for the use, edification, and comfort of. The translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some. It was the first book printed in british north america. 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. Together, they served to disseminate puritan values for over a hundred years. The book was printed in 1640 by stephen daye, a locksmith in cambridge, massachusetts. It was probably preceded by a small singlesheet production known as the oath of a freeman, of which no copy is extant. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english. Nov 25, 20 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. 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.

Digital bay psalm book university of alabama press. Bay psalm book was not only the first book printed in america, and the first book written in america. The following year, the residents of the colony asked john eliot, thomas welde, and richard mather to undertake a new translation from the hebrew of the book of psalms, for use in the colonys churches. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. This is an edited reposting from our sister site bookride first posted in june 2007. This little book of 1640 was precursor to lexington and concord, and, ultimately, to american political independence. In a few cases we will also provide a version that retains the 1640 spelling to give a flavor of how they looked in the original. A facsimile reprint of the first edition of 1640 the facsimile notes on the reproduction. 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.