We use cookies to help us understand how you use our site, and make your experience better. To find out more read our privacy policy.
Play

00:00

/

00:00

Full screen
Video quality

Low 0 MB

High 0 MB

HD 0 MB

Captions
Volume
Volume
Hero image for Survey - The Unbelievable Glory of the Human Voice

Survey - The Unbelievable Glory of the Human Voice

Television (Full Length) – 1972

Opening with an image of Orpheus floating on the water, this eclectic documentary by future advertising maestro Tony Williams climaxes with one of New Zealand's most eyeopening montages. Loaded with examples of the many ways the human voice can make music, the film sees host Julian Waring introducing choirs, opera, balladeers and protest singers. En route, Michael Heath recreates a performance by Florence Foster Jenkins, a close cousin of Asian-New Zealand songbird Wing. The mash-up finale uses 2000 photos to showcase two decades of rock music, in a scene that must have blown minds in the suburbs. 

Opera nearly always deals with primitive passions — revenge, jealousy, murder, rampaging sexuality, lust. In fact someone once said that if a martian were to land on earth, he’d get a better idea of human conduct through visiting the Italian opera than from almost anything else.
– Presenter Julian Waring

Key Cast & Crew

Generic Profile image for Julian Waring

Julian Waring

Writer, Presenter

Profile image for Michael Heath

Michael Heath

As: Florence Foster Jenkins

Generic Profile image for Ian John

Ian John

Editor

Profile image for John O'Shea

John O'Shea

Producer

Profile image for Tony Williams

Tony Williams

Director, Writer

Generic Profile image for Kathy O'Shea

Kathy O'Shea

Assistant Editor

See all 16 credits

Produced by

Pacific Films

Acknowledgements

Presented with thanks to the New Zealand Film Heritage Trust – Te Puna Ataata

Music

Includes performances by the Orpheus Choir (Musical Director Malcolm Richard) and St Mary of the Angels Choir (Director Maxwell Fernie)
 

Categories

More from the NZ Music Month Collection...

Thumbnail image for Give It A Whirl
Series

Give It A Whirl

Give It A Whirl tells the story of Kiwi...

Thumbnail image for Split Enz - Spellbound

Split Enz - Spellbound

Sam Neill narrates this documentary plotting the...

Thumbnail image for The Power of Music (Te Kaha o Te Waiata)

The Power of Music (Te Kaha o Te Waiata)

Auckland band Herbs could have released their new...

Thumbnail image for Heavenly Pop Hits - The Flying Nun Story

Heavenly Pop Hits - The Flying Nun Story

This documentary tells the story of the legendary...

Thumbnail image for C'mon
Series

C'mon

C’mon...

Thumbnail image for Nambassa Festival

Nambassa Festival

The three day Nambassa Festival, held on a Waihi farm...

Thumbnail image for Fat Freddy's Drop - Based on a True Story

Fat Freddy's Drop - Based on a True Story

This documentary follows the "seven-headed soul...

Thumbnail image for Radio with Pictures
Series

Radio with Pictures

For a generation of music fans before the...

Thumbnail image for Homegrown Profiles
Series

Homegrown Profiles

Homegrown Profiles was a spin-off from music...

Thumbnail image for Dalvanius

Dalvanius

Entertainment legend Maui Dalvanius Prime rides an...

Thumbnail image for Bill Sevesi's Dream

Bill Sevesi's Dream

This Artsville TV documentary plucks its way...

Thumbnail image for That's Country
Series

That's Country

Punk rock was breaking and musical styles changing,...

Thumbnail image for Newsview - Shona Laing profile

Newsview - Shona Laing profile

This NZBC profile finds singer/songwriter Shona Laing...

Thumbnail image for Maple on the Hill - The Untold Story of the Tumbleweeds

Maple on the Hill - The Untold Story of the Tumbleweeds

Although The Tumbleweeds toured beyond Otago only...

Thumbnail image for Eyewitness - Punk

Eyewitness - Punk

TVNZ journalist (and future Communicado founder) Neil...

Thumbnail image for Let's Go
Series

Let's Go

In the heady days of Beatlemania, Let's Go...

Thumbnail image for Shihad - Beautiful Machine

Shihad - Beautiful Machine

This theatrically released documentary charts 23 years...

Thumbnail image for Kaleidoscope - Decade of the Enz

Kaleidoscope - Decade of the Enz

In 1983, Split Enz, NZ's most successful rock group to...

Thumbnail image for Ten Guitars

Ten Guitars

This full-length documentary gives...

Thumbnail image for Blerta Revisited

Blerta Revisited

If a single word could sum up the free-wheeling...

Thumbnail image for Hip Hop New Zealand

Hip Hop New Zealand

"E tu stand proud, kia kaha say it loud", Dean...

Thumbnail image for When the Cat's Away

When the Cat's Away

This concert film captures When the Cat's Away during...

Thumbnail image for Grunt Machine
Series

Grunt Machine

The Grunt Machine began life in May 1975 as a...

Thumbnail image for Ready to Roll - NZ Record Awards 1978

Ready to Roll - NZ Record Awards 1978

The NZ Music Awards ceremony now fills...

Thumbnail image for The Secret Life of John Rowles

The Secret Life of John Rowles

The meteoric career of one of NZ’s greatest...

Thumbnail image for Popco
Series

Popco

Arriving on Kiwi television screens on 19 April...

Thumbnail image for The Country Touch
Series

The Country Touch

The Country Touch was a widely popular...

Thumbnail image for Lew Pryme - Welcome to my World

Lew Pryme - Welcome to my World

Lew Pryme's life was a wild ride that took in...

Thumbnail image for Shazam!
Series

Shazam!

Shazam! rode the 1980s music video boom...

Thumbnail image for Finn for a Day

Finn for a Day

This documentary follows a 2001 Neil Finn tour of his...

Thumbnail image for Anthems: New Zealand's Iconic Hits (excerpts)

Anthems: New Zealand's Iconic Hits (excerpts)

TV series Anthems celebrated the...

Thumbnail image for Sweet As

Sweet As

This documentary follows the experiences of two groups...

Thumbnail image for Don't Let it Get You

Don't Let it Get You

“The big ALL FUN show for the whole family to...

Thumbnail image for Through the Eyes of Love

Through the Eyes of Love

New Zealanders have been accused of not rushing to...

Thumbnail image for The Living Room
Series

The Living Room

A magazine show with an edge, The Living Room...

Thumbnail image for In Bed with the Orchestra

In Bed with the Orchestra

This Steve La Hood-directed documentary provides a...

Thumbnail image for Nesian Mystik - For the People

Nesian Mystik - For the People

For the People charts the journey of Auckland...

Thumbnail image for Waiata Anthems
Series

Waiata Anthems

Waiata Anthems aims to preserve and promote...

Thumbnail image for Rumble & Bang

Rumble & Bang

From 1964 to 1966 Chants R&B were a fixture of the...

Thumbnail image for Mike Nock

Mike Nock

"Jazz is an attitude ... how you look at yourself, how...

Thumbnail image for Sir Howard Morrison - Time of My Life

Sir Howard Morrison - Time of My Life

Ol’ Brown Eyes celebrates 40 years in showbiz...

Thumbnail image for Survey - The Unbelievable Glory of the Human Voice

Survey - The Unbelievable Glory of the Human Voice

Opening with an image of Orpheus floating on the...

Thumbnail image for Icon in B Minor

Icon in B Minor

Icon in B Minor: a musical odyssey...

Thumbnail image for Farr from Heaven

Farr from Heaven

"I love the idea of bringing sexiness into the...

Thumbnail image for Skeptics - Sheen of Gold

Skeptics - Sheen of Gold

Experimental noise band the Skeptics are best known...

Thumbnail image for The Gravy - Series Three, Episode One (Little Bushmen vs Auckland Philharmonia)

The Gravy - Series Three, Episode One (Little Bushmen vs Auckland Philharmonia)

This episode of the Sticky Pictures’ arts show...

Thumbnail image for Nathan Haines Family Album

Nathan Haines Family Album

London-based jazz saxophonist Nathan Haines returns...

Thumbnail image for This is Your Life - Rob Guest

This is Your Life - Rob Guest

Paul Holmes presents this episode of the show which...

Thumbnail image for Aotearoa Hip Hop Summit

Aotearoa Hip Hop Summit

The Aotearoa Hip Hop Summit held in Auckland 2001, was...

Thumbnail image for 30 Arthur Street

30 Arthur Street

30 Arthur Street was a Wellington musical institution....

Thumbnail image for Wise Women and Song

Wise Women and Song

Singer Jackie Clarke attends the NZ Smokefree...