Nov 24, 20 the whole book of psalms is less a book than a ruin the remains of another age. The whole book of psalms, with the usual hymns and spiritual songs. The book is in its original binding, with the title page signed by mather. The psalms have been translated into english metrical verse a number of times, e. Set forth and allowed to be sung in all churches, of all the people together, before and after morning and evening prayer. Whittingham and others, conferred with the hebrew, with apte notes to sing them withall. Some metrical psalters include melodies or even harmonizations. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study. The bay psalm book the first book printed in america is.
Thus, in 1640, this whole booke of psalms became the first book printed in britains newly forming american colonies. 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. Bookprinted material the vvhole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. Compiled by john eliot, richard mather, and thomas weld, and printed by stephen day at cambridge, massachusetts in 1640, it was intended to give a more literal translation of the hebrew psalms than that of the king james version, and yet be suitable for congregational singing. The whole book of psalms, with the usual hymns and spiritual. The whole book of psalms faithfully translated into english metre.
The singing of psalms, though it breath forth 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. Psalms article about psalms by the free dictionary. 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. This copy, from the john carter brown library, is one of 11 copies of the first edition known to exist and one of only four perfect copies. The vvhole booke of psalmes nypl digital collections. The vvhole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. More rare and endangered than old books, lately, are bookstores and public libraries. However, its production, just 20 years after the pilgrims arrival at plymouth, massachusetts, represents a considerable achievement. The whole book of psalms, collected into english metre. 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. New york ap a tiny book of psalms from 1640 believed to be the first book ever printed in what is now the united states is poised to set. The psalms in it are metrical translations into english.
The 1640 cambridge, massachusetts, whole booke of psalmes, or bay psalm book. However, the psalms are popular for private devotion among many protestants and still used in many churches for traditional worship. Sternhold and hopkins, the whole book of psalms in metre. The bay psalm book was the first book printed in british north america. Whereunto is prefixed a discourse declaring not only the lawfullnes, but also the necessity of the heavenly ordinance of singing scripture psalmes in the churches of god. Book published in 1640 sets a record at auction the new.
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. Why the whole church needs psalm 7, violent imagery and all a protest song for syrian refugees and suburban soccer moms. It was titled, the whole booke of psalms, but became more popularly known as the bay psalm book. The first book printed in north america was a collection of psalm settings, the bay psalm book 1640. The preface is usually attributed to mather, but this is disputed by zoltan haraszti, who attributes it to john cotton. The bay psalm book, as it is known, is essentially sacred text to be sung during the liturgy. The psalms in irregular metres were mostly written to be sung to specific french tunes, so his analysis concentrates on the vast majority of psalms in sternholds double common metre dcm. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. The whole book of psalmes, 1647, held by the british library. Many collections preceded this final compilation of the psalms. Mather was the principal author and translator, but was assisted by about 30 other new england ministers. 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 translations are not particularly polished, and not one has remained in use, although some of the tunes to which they were sung have survived. 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 whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english. Reissued in successive editions, it remained in use for more than 100 years. It will go on display in libraries across the united states. In fact, it was the first book to be printed in the british colonies of north america. It came into being nearly four hundred years earlier, as english settlers in the massachusetts bay area compiled a rhythmic version of biblical psalms for singing in worship. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated in to english metre 1640 also known as the bay psalm book was the first booklength. The bay psalm book is a metrical psalter first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts. Being a facsimile reprint of the first edition, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, in new england in 1640.
Oct 01, 2019 the whole booke of dauids psalmes collected into english metre, by t. This book is corrected and enlarged from an older work by thomas sternhold d. 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. Bay psalm book the whole booke of psalmes first edition. The vvhole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre. Preface to the 1640 bay psalm book reformed theology at a. The whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into. 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 whole book of psalms is less a book than a ruin the remains of another age. 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. The whole book of psalms, collected into english metre by sternhold, thomas, d. The first book printed in what is now the united states, a copy of the bay psalm book, was. The bay psalm book, as this work is commonly known, is the first book printed in british north america. The book is a metrical psalter, first printed in 1640 in cambridge, massachusetts.
The congregationalist puritans who emigrated to massachusetts bay in search of religious freedom quickly set about to translate and produce a version of the book of psalms that was a closer paraphrase of. The book of psalms is one of the few books of the bible to be printed as a standalone book. Why the whole church needs psalm 7, violent imagery and. It was prepared by puritan leaders of the massachusetts bay colony. Originally published in 1640 as the whole booke of psalmes faithfully translated into english metre, the unassuming psalter undertook the translation of hebrew psalms into english verse for a growing population of new england puritans unhappy with contemporary translations and in need of a version that would better represent their beliefs. The whole booke of dauids psalmes collected into english metre, by t. The whole book of psalms collected into english metre by thomas sternhold, john hopkins, and others.
He first edition of the bay psalm book, or new england version of the psalms, printed by stephen daye at cambridge, massachusetts, in. Nov 12, 2012 a census and account of copies is given in wilberforce eames introduction to the bay psalm book. The first book printed in british north america, commonly known as the bay psalm book. Translated by richard mather, john eliot, and thomas weld, among others. The bay psalm book is a very important piece of history. The earliest book known to have been printed in english in the british north american colonies. With anno tations, opening the words and sentences, by conference with other scrip lures.
At that time psalms appears also to have been used as a title for the entire section of the hebrew ot canon more commonly known as the writings see lk 24. By the 20th century, they were mostly replaced by hymns in church services. A tiny book of psalms from 1640 believed to be the first book ever printed in what is now the united states is poised to set an auction record for a printed book on tuesday. Stephen daye, 1640, title page of the whole book of psalms. Together with all the ancient and proper tunes sung in churches, with some of. Harasztis, the enigma of the bay psalm book, 1956, p. 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.
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