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