Chapter 2- The Sound of Music

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The Sound of Music

Part I: Evelyn Glennie Listens to Sound Without Hearing It

  • Evelyn Glennie, a Scottish girl, lost her hearing by the age of 11 but remained passionate about music.
  • Guided by percussionist Ron Forbes, she learned to sense music through vibrations in her body.
  • Despite her deafness, she mastered over 1,000 instruments, earned top awards, and gained global recognition.
  • Evelyn inspires many by performing in diverse places—concert halls, prisons, hospitals—and teaching young musicians.

Key Message: Hard work and determination can overcome physical disabilities.

Part II: The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan

    • The shehnai evolved from the pungi, modified by a barber to produce a softer, more melodious sound.
    • Ustad Bismillah Khan elevated the shehnai to classical concert status and played at India’s Independence in 1947.
    • He received numerous honors, including the Bharat Ratna.

 

  • Despite global fame, he stayed rooted in Benaras and Indian tradition.

Key Message: Dedication to art and cultural roots leads to timeless achievements.

 

“The Sound of Music” का संक्षिप्त सारांश

भाग I: एवलिन ग्लेनी (Evelyn Glennie)

  • एवलिन ग्लेनी एक स्कॉटिश लड़की थी, जिसने 11 साल की उम्र में अपनी सुनने की शक्ति खो दी, लेकिन संगीत के प्रति उसका जुनून कम नहीं हुआ।
  • पर्कशनिस्ट रॉन फोर्ब्स की मदद से उसने अपने शरीर के माध्यम से संगीत के कंपन को महसूस करना सीखा।
  • बहरेपन के बावजूद, उसने 1,000 से अधिक वाद्ययंत्रों में महारत हासिल की, कई प्रतिष्ठित पुरस्कार जीते और एक विश्वप्रसिद्ध संगीतकार बन गई।
  • एवलिन जेलों, अस्पतालों और युवा संगीतकारों की कक्षाओं में प्रदर्शन कर दूसरों को प्रेरित करती है।

मुख्य संदेश:
मेहनत और दृढ़ संकल्प से शारीरिक अक्षमताओं को भी मात दी जा सकती है।

भाग II: बिस्मिल्लाह खान की शहनाई (The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan)

  • शहनाई का आविष्कार एक नाई ने “पुंगी” की तीखी आवाज को मधुर बनाने के लिए किया था, और यह वाद्ययंत्र मंदिरों और शादियों में शुभ माना जाने लगा।
  • उस्ताद बिस्मिल्लाह खान, एक महान शहनाई वादक, ने इसे शास्त्रीय संगीत मंचों पर प्रतिष्ठा दिलाई।
  • उन्होंने 15 अगस्त 1947 को भारत की आज़ादी के अवसर पर लाल किले से शहनाई बजाई और भारत रत्न से सम्मानित हुए।
  • पूरी दुनिया में प्रसिद्धि पाने के बाद भी वे बनारस और भारतीय परंपरा से गहराई से जुड़े रहे।

मुख्य संदेश:
कला और सांस्कृतिक जड़ों के प्रति समर्पण से अमर उपलब्धियां प्राप्त होती हैं।

Questions and Answers

Part I: Evelyn Glennie

Page 4 – Thinking About the Text

I.

  1. How old was Evelyn when she went to the Royal Academy of Music?
    • She was 17 years old.
  2. When was her deafness first noticed? When was it confirmed?
    • It was first noticed at age 8 when she didn’t respond to her name, and confirmed at 11 by specialists.

II.

  1. Who helped her continue with music?
    • Percussionist Ron Forbes, who taught her to sense vibrations using tuned drums.
  2. Where does Evelyn perform?
    • In concert halls, prisons, hospitals, and music classes for youth.

III.

  1. How does Evelyn hear music?
    • She feels vibrations through her skin, bones, and feet—like sensing xylophone notes with her fingertips or drum sounds by leaning on them.

Part II: Bismillah Khan

Page 9 – Thinking About the Text

I. Tick the correct answers:

  1. Pungi
  2. A barber
  3. Professional musicians
  4. Ali Bux
  5. Afghanistan

II. Feelings Table – Positive / Negative / Neutral:

  1. Teaching music – Positive
  2. Film world – Negative (he disliked its “artificiality and glamour”)
  3. Migrating to the USA – Negative (refused to leave India)
  4. Playing at temples – Positive
  5. Bharat Ratna – Positive (honored and happy)
  6. Banks of the Ganga – Positive (deeply inspired by them)
  7. Leaving Benaras – Negative (yearned for it while abroad)

III. Short Answers (30–40 words):

  1. Why did Aurangzeb ban the pungi?
    • Because it had a shrill, unpleasant sound that was considered unsuitable for court music.
  2. How is the shehnai different?
    • It is longer and broader with seven holes, producing a softer, more melodious sound.
  3. Where was it traditionally played?
    • At temples and weddings; Bismillah Khan brought it to classical music platforms.
  4. What was Bismillah Khan’s big break?
    • His performance on All India Radio in 1938 made him nationally known.
  5. What historic event did he play for on 15 August 1947?
    • He played the shehnai at the Red Fort to celebrate India’s first Independence Day.
  6. Why did he refuse to set up a school in the USA?
    • He felt he couldn’t live away from Benaras or recreate its spiritual connection, especially the River Ganga.
  7. What shows his deep love for India and Benaras?
    • He missed Benaras even while in Mumbai, considered the Ganga holy, and remained emotionally tied to his birthplace Dumraon.

Key Themes

  • Overcoming Challenges: Evelyn’s victory over her hearing loss through music.
  • Cultural Legacy: Bismillah Khan’s commitment to Indian tradition and the shehnai.
  • Hard Work: Both artists succeeded through relentless effort and passion.

Inspirational Quote (Page 29):

“If you work hard and know where you’re going, you’ll get there.” — Evelyn Glennie

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