Chapters 12 cliffsnotes study guides book summaries. The first book printed in what later became the united states of america is expected to set a world record at auction on tuesday. 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. 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 bay psalm book addressed this warning by translating the hebrew psalms of david into idiomatic, metrical english to be sung by the entire congregation both in church and at home. The new england primer offered every child and apprentice the chance to learn to read the catechism and a set of moral precepts. 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. Written by richard mather mather, richard, 15961669, british puritan clergyman in north america, b. The bay psalm book can be compared with the literary credos of emerson and whitman, which prefer originality over literary polish or imitative technical perfection. 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. 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. What you need to know about the bay psalm book christianity. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new.
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 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. Summary before any characters appear, the time and geography are made clear. Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing the unique reading in psalm 69, verse 23 see page 39. Bay psalm book, 1640, perhaps the oldest book now in existence that was published in british north america. Rubensteins copy, on loan to the library for this exhibition, were at originally part of the historic old south church library in boston. A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press and established a printing office in cambridge. The first book to be published in the united states of america appeared while the country was still in its original thirteen colonies stage of development. The bay psalm book began as a liturgical project meant to galvanize the pastoral ministry of a new colony.
A2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church, showing thomas princes annotations of variant readings from the 1647 reprint edition. The bay psalm book preface first reformed presbyterian. Every chapter of the bible in 140 characters or less. He also tends to spiritual wellbeing, making sure that the speaker stays on the right path. 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. The bay psalm book is the first known book to be printed in what is now the united states. 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. It was both the first book printed in the colonies and it was also the first book entirely written in the colonies. 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.
It was the first book printed in british north america. 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. Some are private prayers, and some are lyrical devices for recalling historical events in israels history. 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. Study 78 literary analysis flashcards from angel m.
Some of the psalms in the book of psalms are hymns to be sung by a congregation, and songs of ascent to. Nov 25, 20 today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. 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. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into.
Bay psalm book, common hymnal of the massachusetts bay colony. When one considers the difficulties of mere existence during this time, a mere 20 years after the first arrivals in. He makes sure the speaker isnt lacking any necessities. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book the singing of psalms, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. Bay psalme book article about bay psalme book by the free. Setting bay on the north coast of massachusetts that still exists today. The bay psalm book and the new england primer were, next to the bible, the most commonly owned books in seventeenthcentury new england. Written by richard mather mather, richard, 15961669, british puritan clergyman in north america, b explanation of bay psalme book. The bay psalm book was the first book to be printed in north america, twenty years after the arrival of the pilgrims in 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 puritan divines of the massachusetts bay colony set out to produce a translation from the hebrew that was reflective.
Title page of the copy of the bay psalm book held by the beinecke rare book and manuscript library. Jean ferguson carr classroom issues and strategies. Together, they served to disseminate puritan values for over a hundred years. Bay psalm book article about bay psalm book by the free. 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 library of congress copy of the bay psalm book and david m. The bay psalm book 1640 the new england primer 1683.
The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. Preface to the bay psalm book 1640 songs of the puritans. A london printer, stephen daye, came with the press. Some are private prayers, and some are lyrical devices for recalling historical events in israel. Nov 15, 20 as the first printed book in america, the bay psalm book was an early harbinger of american independence. The bay psalm book, as it is known, is essentially sacred text to be sung during the liturgy. The singing of psalms, though it breath forth nothing but holy harmony, and melody. It was published in cambridge, massachusetts, by the puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. He studied at oxford, began preaching, and was ordained in 1620.
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. He desires to join them, and after some banter between him and alice, he pulls out the twentysixth edition of the bay psalm book, sounds his pipe, and renders a song in full, sweet, and melodious tones. The 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book. U2, take it home u2 has dabbled in the psalms, and in this live video they perform psalm 40. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at 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 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.
The first book written and printed in the new world, the bay psalm book holds a unique place in our cultural and religious history. Rivers of babylon psalm 7 has been set to music more times than you can image. This solidly entertaining first novel features a rugged, brainy hero with a sense of humor and lots of money. The bay psalm book murder by will harriss goodreads. This collection of psalm texts, rather than the bible itself, was the first volume published in the new world. Muse vain things people do 2 kings of the earth do set themselves, princes consult also. Aug 23, 2019 the first book to be published in the united states of america appeared while the country was still in its original thirteen colonies stage of development. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. 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. Census of copies of the bay psalm book, with provenance, sale. 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. 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.
Dec 02, 20 the bay psalm book began as a liturgical project meant to galvanize the pastoral ministry of a new colony. Today, sothebys will auction a copy of the first englishlanguage book printed in america. This book, with which the pilgrims literally sang their praises to god. Heath anthology of american literaturethe bay psalm book. Richard mather and a group of his fellow new england clergy transcribed biblical psalms into metered verse. The lord takes the speaker to peaceful and relaxing places, like green fields and calm waters. This first book published in america was a book of poemssongs, which became known as the bay psalm book and later was recognized as. The primer could be used to frame discussions about attitudes toward learning and childhood, toward the propagation of cultural values through books. The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at.
The whole booke of psalmes, or the bay psalm book, as it is now known, is expected to sell for. I summarised the bible on twitter between aug 2010 and nov 20 one tweet per chapter, one chapter per day. Printed in cambridge, massachusetts, on a press set up by stephen day, it included a dissertation on the lawfulness and. These two copies of the text are together for the first time since they were separated long ago. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english. The book is considered to have been the work of christian reformers seeking a. 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. 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. Dec 11, 2012 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. Supervised by richard mather, thomas weld and john eliot.
When a librarian is found dead with a rare volume in his h. For example, zoltan haraszti, in the enigma of the bay psalm bookmakes a very strong case for cottons authorship, based on the style of the writing, comparisons of the draft of the bay psalm book preface with a longer essay on the same subject by cotton, and finally an analysis of the handwriting in a draft copy of the preface that exists. It was the first book printed in english in the americas and is considered one of the most historic volumes in american religious history. 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. At a muttered comment from magua, heyward insists upon silence for safety. Does the booka valuable gift to the university from gubernatorial candidate perry. 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.
Q2r from the bay psalm book remaining at the old south church. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english. 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. The bay psalm book preface the singing of psalms breathes out 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. As the first printed book in america, the bay psalm book was an early harbinger of american independence. Join david redden director, special projects, and selby kiffer senior specialist, special. 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. Psalm 23 and the bay psalm book the music that shaped. The bay psalm book was the collaborative project of over twelve leading puritan divines and the first publishing venture of the massachusetts colony. 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.
The puritan translation and printing of the whole booke of psalmes was not simply coincident with the founding of americain a very real way. The bay psalm book, printed just twenty years after the pilgrims arrival. The bay psalm book 1640 and the new england primer 1683. The bay psalm book is a very important piece of history. The bay psalm book is valued not only as an object of extreme.
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