Class 9, Chapter 2: The Sound of Music

Chapter 2: The Sound of Music**

**Part I: Evelyn Glennie Listens to Sound Without Hearing It**

**Thinking about the Text**

**I. Answer these questions in a few words or a couple of sentences each.**

1. **How old was Evelyn when she went to the Royal Academy of Music?**

* **Answer:** Evelyn was seventeen years old when she went to the Royal Academy of Music. (Though some sources might suggest she was just under 17 when she auditioned). The text says "She was seventeen when she went...".

2. **When was her deafness first noticed? When was it confirmed?**

* **Answer:** Her deafness was first noticed when she was eight years old. It was confirmed when she was eleven years old.

**II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (30–40 words).**

1. **Who helped her to continue with music? What did he do and say?**

* **Answer:** Percussionist Ron Forbes helped her to continue with music. He began by tuning two large drums to different notes and said, "Don't listen through your ears... try to sense it some other way." He encouraged her to feel the vibrations of music through different parts of her body.

2. **Name the various places and causes for which Evelyn performs.**

* **Answer:** Evelyn performs at regular concerts. Apart from these, she also gives free concerts in prisons and hospitals. She also gives high priority to classes for young musicians.

**III. Answer the question in two or three paragraphs (100–150 words).**

1. **How does Evelyn hear music?**

* **Answer:** Evelyn does not hear music through her ears; she senses it through different parts of her body. Ron Forbes, a percussionist, was instrumental in helping her develop this ability. He taught her to feel the higher notes from the upper part of her body (waist up) and the lower notes from the lower part (waist down).

Evelyn explains that music pours in through every part of her body – it tingles in her skin, her cheekbones, and even in her hair. When she plays the xylophone, she can sense the sound passing up the stick into her fingertips. By leaning against the drums, she can feel the resonances flowing into her body. On a wooden platform, she removes her shoes so that the vibrations pass through her bare feet and up her legs. This unique way of sensing music allows her to become a celebrated multi-percussionist despite her profound deafness.

---

**Part II: The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan**

**Thinking about the Text**

**I. Tick the right answer.**

1. **The (shehnai, pungi) was a ‘reeded noisemaker.’**

* **Answer:** pungi

2. **(Bismillah Khan, A barber, Ali Bux) transformed the pungi into a shehnai.**

* **Answer:** A barber

3. **Bismillah Khan’s paternal ancestors were (barbers, professional musicians).**

* **Answer:** professional musicians

4. **Bismillah Khan learnt to play the shehnai from (Ali Bux, Paigambar Bux, Ustad Faiyaz Khan).**

* **Answer:** Ali Bux

5. **Bismillah Khan’s first trip abroad was to (Afghanistan, U.S.A., Canada).**

* **Answer:** Afghanistan

**II. Find the words in the text which show Ustad Bismillah Khan’s feelings about the items listed below. Then mark a tick (✓) in the correct column. Discuss your answers in class.**

| :------------------------------ | :----------------------------- | :--------- | :--------- | :-------- |

| 1. teaching children music | | ✓ | | |

| 2. the film world | | | ✓ | |

| 3. migrating to the U.S.A. | | | ✓ | |

| 4. playing at temples | | ✓ | | |

| 5. getting the Bharat Ratna | | ✓ | | |

| 6. the banks of the Ganga | | ✓ | | |

| 7. leaving Benaras and Dumraon | | | ✓ | |

*Words from the text showing his feelings (Examples):*

1. *Teaching children music:* "That is why whenever I am in a foreign country, I keep yearning to see Hindustan." (Implies he wants to share his music, and he has disciples.) "I just can't leave Benaras." (His commitment is strong.) The text also mentions he was a "devout Muslim" and played at temples, suggesting openness and a desire to share.

2. *The film world:* "The film world did not appeal to him." "I just can't come to terms with the artificiality and glamour of the film world."

3. *Migrating to the U.S.A.:* His student offered to recreate Benaras in the U.S.A., but Bismillah Khan asked if he could transport River Ganga as well. This shows his strong attachment to India and reluctance to leave.

4. *Playing at temples:* He played the shehnai at the Kashi Vishwanath temple and Balaji and Mangala Maiya temples. He considered music his religion.

5. *Getting the Bharat Ratna:* "Ustad Faiyaz Khan patted the young boy’s back... Work hard and you shall make it." (Shows his journey towards recognition). His acceptance of the award reflects a positive feeling.

6. *The banks of the Ganga:* "The flowing waters of the Ganga inspired him to improvise and invent raagas." He couldn't imagine life without the Ganga.

7. *Leaving Benaras and Dumraon:* "For me, Hindustan is Benaras and Dumraon, and they are the most wonderful towns in the world." "That is why whenever I am in a foreign country, I keep yearning to see Hindustan."

**III. Answer these questions in 30–40 words.**

1. **Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of the pungi?**

* **Answer:** Aurangzeb banned the playing of the pungi because it had a shrill and unpleasant sound. He considered it a "reeded noisemaker."

2. **How is a shehnai different from a pungi?**

* **Answer:** A shehnai is a natural hollow stem pipe that is longer and broader than a pungi. It has seven holes on its body, and it produces soft and melodious sounds, unlike the pungi's shrill sound.

3. **Where was the shehnai played traditionally? How did Bismillah Khan change this?**

* **Answer:** Traditionally, the shehnai was part of the ‘naubat’ or traditional ensemble of nine instruments found at royal courts and was also played in temples and at weddings. Bismillah Khan brought the shehnai onto the classical stage, giving it recognition as a solo classical instrument.

4. **When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break?**

* **Answer:** Bismillah Khan got his big break with the opening of the All India Radio in Lucknow in 1938. He soon became an often-heard shehnai player on radio, which brought him widespread recognition.

5. **Where did Bismillah Khan play the shehnai on 15 August 1947? Why was the event historic?**

* **Answer:** Bismillah Khan played the shehnai from the Red Fort on 15 August 1947. The event was historic because it was India's first Independence Day, and he was the first Indian to greet the nation with his shehnai.

6. **Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A.?**

* **Answer:** Bismillah Khan refused to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A. because he was deeply attached to India, particularly Benaras, the River Ganga, and Dumraon. He could not bear the thought of being away from these places.

7. **Find at least two instances in the text which tell you that Bismillah Khan loves India and Benaras.**

* **Answer:**

1. When a student asked him to head a shehnai school in the U.S.A. and offered to recreate the atmosphere of Benaras, Bismillah Khan asked if he could also transport the River Ganga, highlighting his inseparable bond.

2. He once said, "That is why whenever I am in a foreign country, I keep yearning to see Hindustan. While in Mumbai, I think of only Benaras and the holy Ganga. And while in Benaras, I miss the unique mattha of Dumraon."

**Thinking about Language**

**(This section often involves vocabulary and grammar exercises.)**

**I. Look at these sentences.**

* Evelyn **was determined** to live a normal life.

* Evelyn **managed to conceal** her growing deafness from friends and teachers.

The italicised parts answer the questions: “What was Evelyn determined to do?” and “What did Evelyn manage to do?” They begin with a to-verb (to live, to conceal).

Complete the following sentences. Beginning with a to-verb, try to answer the questions in brackets.

1. The school sports team hopes **to win** the match. (What does it hope to do?)

2. We all want **to succeed** in life. (What do we all want to do?)

3. They advised him **to wait** for the right opportunity. (What did they advise him to do?)

4. The authorities permitted us **to play** in the park. (What did the authorities permit us to do?)

5. A musician decided **to compose** a new tune. (What did a musician decide to do?)

**II. From the text on Bismillah Khan, find the words and phrases that match these definitions and write them down. The number of the paragraph where you will find the words/phrases has been given for you in brackets.**

1. the home of royal people; a palace (1) – **royal residence**

2. the state of being alone (5) – **solitude**

3. a part which is absolutely necessary (2) – **indispensable component**

4. to do something not done before (5) – **improvise / invent** (the text says "inspired him to improvise and invent raagas")

5. without much effort (13) – **effortlessly**

6. quickly and in large quantities (9) – **thick and fast**

**III. Tick the right answer.**

1. When something is revived, it **(lives again / dies)**.

* **Answer:** lives again

2. When a government bans something, it wants it **(started / stopped)**.

* **Answer:** stopped

3. When something is considered auspicious, **(welcome it / avoid it)**.

* **Answer:** welcome it

4. When we take to something, we find it **(boring / interesting)**.

* **Answer:** interesting

5. When you appreciate something, you **(find it good and useful / find it of no use)**.

* **Answer:** find it good and useful

6. When you replicate something, you **(do it for the first time / do it for the second time)**.

* **Answer:** do it for the second time (or produce a copy)

7. When we come to terms with something, it is **(still upsetting / no longer upsetting)**.

* **Answer:** no longer upsetting

**IV. Consult your dictionary and complete the following table. The first one has been done for you.**

| :--------- | :--------- | :------ | :------------ |

*(Note: Some words may not have a common form for all categories, or the verb form might be a phrasal construction.)*

LearnEase9-10

LearnEase9-10

Class 9, Chapter 2: The Sound of Music

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