A beautifully illustrated art historical reference book which explores in depth the central role of the Book of Psalms in the Middle Ages from the sixth to the sixteenth centuries. Traditionally ascribed to King David, the Hebrew Book of Psalms is a varied collection of sacred poems that constitute the longest and most popular book of the Bible. Offering inspiration, hope, and comfort to people for thousands of years, these verses include expressions of lament and loss, petitions and confessions, as well as exclamations of joy and thanksgiving-universal themes that speak to what it means to be human. Sing a New Song: The Psalms in Medieval Art and Life traces the impact of the psalms on men and women of medieval Europe from the sixth to the sixteenth century. It encompasses daily practices and performance, as well as the creation of Psalters (Books of Psalms), some of the most richly ornamented manuscripts ever made. Life, liturgy, and art in the Middle Ages and Renaissance were suffused by psalms. They were present at the beginning of one's life and at the end: children learned to read from psalms, and the dying were comforted by their recitation. Exploring the integration of the psalms in medieval life, this stunningly illustrated and comprehensive publication charts the ubiquitous presence of this poetry in people's lives for over a millennium. AUTHORS: Roger S. Wieck is the Melvin R. Seiden Curator and Department Head of Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts, Morgan Library & Museum. Joshua O'Driscoll is associate curator of Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts, Morgan Library & Museum. Deirdre Jackson is assistant curator, Morgan Library & Museum. Frederica Law-Turner is an independent art historian specializing in medieval illuminated manuscripts and tapestries. Emerald Lucas is Belle da Costa Greene Curatorial Fellow, Morgan Library & Museum. SELLING POINTS: . Internationally important collection of manuscripts and printed books illuminates the importance of Psalms in the lives of ordinary people then and now. . Scholarly apparatus includes an index of cited manuscripts featured in the accompanying exhibition, and their locations, a crucial source of reference for scholars, endnotes, selected bibliography, and a general index. 150 colour illustrations
