Welcome To The Community

Coming of Age Day in Japan

Coming Of Age

The point where a teenager becomes an adult is an important point in everyone's life, not only for the person but for their family and friends as well. This is the point where the teenager is accorded the rights and responsibilities of a full member of the community. Typically this gives the person the right to drink alcohol, drive a car, get married, sign contracts and vote in public elections. It also means that the person has the responsibility to provide for themselves and any dependants, to abide by the law and to contribute to the spirit of the community by becoming involved in local groups in a voluntary capacity.

Various cultures across the Earth have different ages for majority varying from 14 to 21 and differents ages at which the various rights and responsibilities are assigned. This hymn is used for the simple case where all rights and responsibilities are dispensed at the one age. The is true for various countries, including Australia where all is given at the age of 18 years.

This hymn is intended not only to welcome the new adult into full membership of the community and declare their right to various freedoms but also to remind the person of their responsibilities.

The tune is "Lasst uns erfreuen herzlich sehr" from "Auserlesene, Catholische, Geistliche Kirchengesäng", Cologne, 1623. The great English composer and hymn arranger Ralph Vaughan Williams produced a magnificent reworking and and arrangement of the tune in 1906. This arrangement was used to set the poem: "All Creatures of Our God and King" by William Draper, 1917, paraphrasing St Francis of Assis's "Canticle Of The Sun". It is a magnificent and cheerful piece of music, appropriate, I believe, to welcome an young adult into the adult world.

Tune: "Lasst uns erfreuen" from "Geistliche Kirchengesäng", Cologne, 1623.
Harmonised and arranged: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1906.
Words: Warren Mars, 2018.

With heart and hand we welcome thee,
Here to thine own majority.
Bid thee welcome! Bid thee welcome!
You've had to wait to lift this cup.
Until from childhood you grew up.
Now you've made it! Yes, you've made it!
So we wish you all the best! Congratulations!

We don't let children do all things,
Like signing contracts, changing rings.
That's because they are not steady.
But now we give you with a fuss,
The same rights as the rest of us.
That's because you are now ready!
You can drive now. You can drink now. You can marry.

We don't give children equal say,
In how we live from day to day;
They don't have the broader vision.
But now we hope, you've learned what's what,
And see the world beyond your plot,
And can make a good decision.
You're aware now. You can vote now. Stay informed now.

Adulthood is no life of ease,
You have responsibilities.
You must work to earn a living.
We didn't make this country great,
Refusing to cooperate.
If was done by people giving.
You can help now. You can make a contribution.

The vocal score with chords is provided here.
I have also provided an SATB arrangement for choirs here.

Finally, I have provided a recording of my computer synthesizer playing the SATB arrangement. There is no singing and the synthesizer is very ordinary. Nevertheless the parts are all there and one can sing along with it or use it get an idea of how it should sound with your choir.