Sign Singers: ‘Oh What a Beautiful Day’

1982
  • Storytelling/Performances
  • TV/Media
The Sign Singers perform 'Oh What a Beautiful Day' broadcast on Stars on Sunday in February 1983.
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The Sign Singers perform on Stars on Sunday, with ‘Oh What a Beautiful Day’. They are introduced by Ian Watkins, the host of Stars on Sunday who says, “Oh What a Beautiful Day was sung by the Mormon Tabermacle Choir and translated for us into deaf sign language by the deaf sign singers who are all profoundly deaf and have become one of the most popular groups ever to appear on Stars on Sunday”. Filmed on March 3, 1982 at Highwic, Newmarket, Auckland. Four songs were filmed that day at the same time, ‘Oh What a Beautiful Day’, ‘Harmony’, ‘Born Free’ and ‘Sailing’. This song screened on TVNZ nearly a year later, on February 20, 1983.

Please note audio is poor quality.

NZSL story – Taonga source: Susie Ovens

Switching Between Modes: Total Communication on Stage, NZSL Off

Susie Ovens shares her memories of the well-known Deaf Sign Singers group founded by Dulcie McKie, which used a Total Communication approach. She knew it wasn’t natural signing, and the group would often relax and switch to NZSL during breaks. Still, Susie recalls the performances having a strong impact, especially on hearing audiences who were moved by the group's energy and visual expressions.
NZSL story – Taonga source: Shona McGhie

Shona McGhie and the Magic of the Auckland Sign Singers

Shona McGhie reflects on her time with the Auckland Sign Singers, a group that helped raise awareness of Deaf culture and showed what Deaf performers could do. Rehearsals were often held at Dulcie McKie’s home, with support from Mac McKie and Gavin Gibbons. Shona recalls her favourite song and the challenge of remembering over 25 routines. It was a busy time full of travel, performance, and connection, and a chapter she looks back on fondly.
Taonga source:
Dulcie McKie
Produced by:
Stars on Sunday, Television New Zealand
Original format:
VHS
Reference number:
SignDNA – Deaf National Archive New Zealand, DM04-01-SP82
Note:
This item has been compressed and/or edited.