Germany: Berlin's sign language choir

DW (English)

The members of this choir in Berlin don't sing Christmas carols but instead perform them in sign language. With their Advent concert, the choir aims to bring the Christmas spirit to the deaf community.

Transcript

00:00Wolfgang Mescher has a busy day ahead.

00:03In just a few hours his choir will perform here in Berlin.

00:07Its members are mostly people with hearing impairments.

00:10On the program tonight are Advent songs in sign language.

00:14Mescher has directed the ensemble for more than 20 years, but the nerves never go away.

00:21I never show that I'm nervous.

00:23I put up posters, then rehearse so that nothing goes wrong.

00:27I hope nothing will go wrong.

00:29But we're not perfect.

00:35A few days earlier, in the rehearsal room, the choir is discussing the correct gesture

00:39for holy.

00:40It can vary according to dialect.

00:44In a world designed for hearing people, the choir has had to fight for its place.

00:50In the past, I often saw Advent concerts advertised at the church for hearing people.

00:55So why don't we, hearing-impaired people, have the opportunity to attend one, too?

01:03They're performing a song in which the believers receive Jesus.

01:07But how does that work in sign language?

01:09Come, we'll show you standing up.

01:12How we imagine it.

01:16The reception.

01:18How?

01:20How does he arrive?

01:22In sign language, poetry is more expressive and melodic than day-to-day sign language.

01:27All together, yearning.

01:32Thomas Kuber has been in the choir for over 10 years.

01:35He's found a community here that supports him.

01:40Deaf people are eye people.

01:42They look at the signing hands, the beautiful movements being made.

01:48They take that in visually.

01:52From ears to eyes.

01:54Translating the songs into sign language isn't easy.

01:59We might need two or three sessions to correct and improve the material to perform it.

02:04We'll notice something and discuss it.

02:08It's important that deaf people can understand what we're doing.

02:17By day, Wolfgang Mescher is a carpenter, where he relies on other senses.

02:25I use my hands to feel the machine starting up.

02:28You can't work immediately after you turn it on.

02:34He can tell by vibration when the machine is ready.

02:41Mescher is the only deaf person in the company.

02:44He uses a translation app or gestures to communicate with colleagues.

02:53When foreign colleagues come in, it works better.

02:56Because their German isn't that good either.

03:01Foreign colleagues feel comfortable working with me, as it's typical for hearing people

03:05to formulate long, complicated sentences, which are harder to understand.

03:12Evening has fallen, and the guests take their seats.

03:15Lively conversations are held largely in silence.

03:19The lights dim for Glory to God in the Highest, from Bach's Christmas Oratorio.

03:34I found it impressive how you can begin to understand the signing when you read along

03:40with the lyrics.

03:42I'm amazed at how many deaf people take part.

03:46The event is with deaf people like me, and that resonates in my heart.

03:52The audience can also get involved.

03:55Thirteen songs later, the choirmaster is happy.

03:59I'm very pleased.

04:00It went great.

04:02Wolfgang Mescher will perform again with his choir at next year's Advent.

04:06Silent, yet full of meaning.

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