The Pilgrim Psalter

[rlvaughn]

In connection with the 400th anniversary of the , Sister Mary Huffman of Birmingham, Alabama has republished "The Pilgrim Psalter" by Henry Ainsworth (originally, The Book of Psalms, Englished in Prose and Meter). In December of 1620, the Mayflower Compact Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth Harbor. In their worship, they used Ainsworth's Psalter.

Description from The Pilgrim Psalter website:

The Pilgrim Psalter (originally titled “The Book of Psalms, Englished in Prose and Meter”) was produced by Henry Ainsworth in 1612. Ainsworth was a Hebrew scholar and Bible teacher among the English Separatists in Amsterdam. Ainsworth’s metrical translations of the Psalms are remarkably faithful to the Hebrew text, and he set them to many of the standard tunes of the Reformation era. The Pilgrims began using this Psalter while living in Amsterdam, and they carried it with them on the Mayflower. It was used in Plymouth until the colony ceased to be independent in 1692. It is here newly reprinted with updated spelling and musical notation, along with a historical introduction explaining its history, features, use, and lasting influence.

ISBN: 978-1-7369918-0-0
Publisher: The Psalter Company, LLC
Binding: Hardcover, Cloth
Pages: 446
Dimensions: 9 1/4" X 6 1/4" X 1 1/4"
Price: $20 each of $325 for a case of eighteen​

Sister Huffman is a devoted Christian and talented musician well-qualified to edit this edition. In addition to the metered psalms and accompanying tunes, the front material has 60 pages, including: An endorsement from Colonel John Eidsmoe, Board of Directors of the Plymouth Rock Foundation; Foreword by Gary Marks, minister emeritus of the Church of the Pilgrimage; the original preface by Ainsworth; an Introduction by Mary Huffman, explaining the Pilgrim history as well as the psalms and tunes of the psalter; and a brief essay on the worship of the Pilgrims, by Paul Jehle, President of the Plymouth Rock Foundation. The back material includes a writing by Ainsworth on the life and work of David; a biography of Ainsworth; information on the tune sources; and a bibliography. The book is very handsomely done! I highly recommend it.

To truly understand the heart, mind, and soul of the Pilgrims, we need to understand their music...Through their music they received comfort, assurance, and inspiration to their quest and pursue their vision. And their music was not the chanting of monks, the cantatas of Bach, the oratorios of Handel. Their music was plain and simple, sung without musical accompaniment, assembled in the Reformation Psalters, and based upon the word of God, particularly the Psalms. John Eidsmoe, "Endorsement"

To combine all these factors and considerations of Hebrew and English poetry in a consistent way throughout the entirety of the 150 Psalms in no small task. Indeed, while other English Psalters have achieved more polish by English standards, none has achieved more accuracy with the Hebrew in wording and structure, and in such a systematic and comprehensive way, and still with a remarkably intact English poetic structure. Mary Huffman, p. xxxii

The mark of the Reformation and doctrine of the Priesthood of the Believer restored the concept that the choir was the congregation, and thus the Pilgrims' focus was on the participation of the people in worship. Paul Jehle, p. lx

Sample Recording, Psalm 33 from The Pilgrim Psalter

 

[rlvaughn]

The bulk of the book is the center section—358 pages of Ainworth’s metrical translations presented with a melody line for singing. Each psalm has a tune, and some have more than one. The book is not republished for only historical purposes, but also to encourage folks to actually sing these songs. Therefore there is some modernization in the tune presentation, as well as spelling. If you want to supplement your song choices with psalms, this would serve well.