SOUND OF MUSIC -1

Summary

Evelyn Glennie is a multi-percussionist. She can play about 1000 instruments with perfection.
She listens to sound without hearing it. Evelyn fought against a physical disability and
became a source of inspiration for thousands of disabled persons. She was profoundly deaf.
She was 11 years old when it was discovered that she had the hearing disability. She wanted
to pursue her career in music but her teachers discouraged her, it was Ron Forbes who
recognized her potential and supported her in achieving her goal. He advised her not to listen
through her ears but try to sense and feel it in some other way. Soon she was excited. She felt
the vibrations of the higher drum from the waist above and the lower drum from the waist
down. Later she realized that she could feel the vibrations in every part of her body. These
tingle in her skin, her cheekbones and even in hair. She had learned to open her body and
mind to the sounds and vibrations. After that, she never looked back.Evelyn joined the
prestigious royal academy of music and scored one of the highest marks in the history of the
academy. She worked hard with strong determination. She got right to the top. In 1991, she
was presented with the royal philharmonic society’s prestigious soloist of the year award.
Apart from the regular concerts, Evelyn gives free concerts in prisons and hospitals. She is a
shining inspiration for deaf children. She has accomplished more than most people twice her
age. She has earned a name in the orchestra. She has inspired those who are handicapped
made them believe that if Evelyn could do that, why not they

Question 1: How old was Evelyn when she went to the Royal Academy of Music?

Answer: She was 16 when she went for the audition of the Royal Academy of Music.

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

Answer: Her deafness was first noticed when she was eight years old. When she
turned 11, her deafness was confirmed.

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

Question 1: Who helped her to continue with music? What did he do and say?

Answer: It was a percussionist named Ron Forbes who spotted her potential in
music. Everybody else discouraged her form pursuing music as they thought it
impossible for a deaf person to learn music. Ron Forbes advised her to feel the music
instead of listening it. He said her to feel it thorough her whole body.

Question 2: Name the various places and causes for which Evelyn performs.
Answer: Evelyn performs at music concerts. Apart from that she also performs at
prison and hospitals. Through music she wants to spread the message of love and
peace to prisoners and sick people.

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

1. How does Evelyn hear music?

Answer: Evelyn hears music through her whole body. In fact she just feels the music.
She tries to feel the vibrations which create sound. While playing drums she uses her
upper and lower body to feel vibrations from different types of drums. While playing
xylophone she feels the music pulsating through her fingers. When she has to
perform on wooden floors, she removes her shoes. This enables her to feel the
vibrations through her bare feet. She even feels the music through her hair.

2. Write the character sketch of Evelyne Glennie.

Evelyn was a determined and hardworking girl. With her rock strong will power she
overcame the obstacle that was presented by Nature. In childhood she lost her
hearing capabilities gradually. At the age of eleven year, her hearing power was
severely damaged. In spite of her handicap she did not want to give up. She took
music as her passion. Her teachers discouraged her but percussionist Ron Forbes
guided her. She joined a three year course at Royal Academy of Music. She captured
most of top awards at theRoyalAcademy. She is the worlds most sought multiplayer
of drums and tables. She is the shining example of determination
 The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan

Summary
This lesson is an effort to understand Indian classical musicians and instruments
especially the origin of shehnai and Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan. Shehnai
replaced pungi which had an unpleasant sound. Pungi’s tonal quality was improved
by a nai (barbar) of sah (emperor Aurnangeb); hence it was named as shehnai.
The lesson beautifully deals with the early life of Bismillah khan in Dumraon in Bihar.
His grandfather was a shehnai-nawaz of the bhojpur king’s court. Bismillah khan
took to music early in life when he was 3 years old in the company of his maternal
uncle. His life is a source of simplicity and communal harmony from the very
beginning when he used to sing ‘ Chiata’ in Bihariji temple and practicing shehnai  in
Vishnu temple and Mangala Maiya temple of Varanasi. Bismillah khan got his big
break with the opening of All India Radio in Lucknow in 1938. He also played shehnai
on 15 August, 1947 from Red fort in presence of Pandit Nehru.
Bismillah khan gave many memorable performances both in India and abroad where
he was honoured with so many awards. He also gave music in  two movies ‘Gunj Uthi
shehnai’ and ‘Sanadhi Apanna”. He was so fond of his motherland India, Benaras and
the  holy Ganga that he refused an offer to be the Head of Shehnai school in USA. In
2001, Ustad Bismillah khan was awarded India’s highest civilian avard, the Bharat
Ratna. In the end, his life is a perfect example of the rich, cultural heritage of India,
one that effortlessly accepts that a devout Muslim like him can very naturally play
the shehnai at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

Answer these questions in 30–40 words

Question 1: Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of the pungi?

Answer: The pungi had an unpleasant shrill sound. Due to its irritating quality
Aurangzeb banned the playing of pungi.

Question 2: How is a shehnai different from a pungi?

Answer: Shehnai is the refined version of pungi. A barber, who was a regular visitor
to the king’s palace, used a naturally hollow stems to put pungi’s reed into and made
shehnai. Shehnai had pleasant sound unlike pungi. As it was played by a barber (nai
in Hindi) before the king (shah in Urdu) so it was given the name Shehnai.

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

Answer: Traditionally the Shehnai was played in temples and during wedding

ceremonies, as it was considered an auspicious instrument. Bismillah Khan brought
Shehnai into mainstream music and changed the way people perceived shehnai.

Question 4: When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break?
Answer: In 1938, when All India Radio started, Bismillah Khan got the big break of
performing for the All India Radio.

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

Answer: On 15th August 1947 Bismillah Khan played shehnai near the Red Fort in
Delhi. It was the day when India became an independent nation. The gathering was
full of eminent luminaries like Nehru and Gandhi.

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

Answer: Bismillah Khan was in love with Benares and the Ganges flowing there. He
used to get inspiration from the ambience of numerous ghats in Varanasi. He knew
that he won’t be able to get that ambience in the USA. So, he refused to start a
shehnai school in the USA.

Question 7 Draw a pen- portrait( character sketch) of Bismillah Khan.

Ustad Bismillah Khan was a Shehnai master of great national and international fame. He was
a great musician. Ali Bux, his maternal uncle perfected him in music. Shehnai was brought to
the classical stage by Ustad Bismillah Khan. He practised for hours and worked very hard to
attain perfection. It was his melodious music that made him the first Indian to greet tire
independent India. Ustad Bismillah Khan created many new rags. He was given many awards
and he even received the Bharat Ratna. He was a true patriot who declined many offers to
settle aborad. He was a true artist but a simple man. He had great regard for Hindustani
Classical Music.