The Sound of Music (English, class-9)

 THE SOUND OF MUSIC

EVELYN GLENNEI LISTENS TO SOUND WITHOUT HEARING IT

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

Ans: Evelyn was seventeen years old when she went to the Royal Academy of Music in London.

 

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

Ans: Her deafness was first noticed when she was eight years old and it was confirmed when she was eleven.

 

3. Who helped Evelyn to continue with music? What did he do and say? 

Ans: Master percussionst Ron Forbes helped Evelyn to continue with music.

  He began by tuning two large drums to different notes. He asked her not to listen to them through her ears but  try to sense the sound in some other manner.

4. Who was Isabel Glennei?

Ans: Isabel Glennei was Evelyn’s mother.

5. Who spotted Evelyn’s potential in music?

Ans: Percussionist Ron Forbes spotted Evelyn’s potential in music.

6. How does Evelyn ‘hear’ the music?  ( for 2 marks)

Ans: Evelyn hears  music not by her ears but through different parts of her body. She senses the sound of xylophone through her finger tips. She feels the sound of drums by leaning against them.She removes her shoes on a wooden platform during her performance so that she can feel the vibrations of music through her bare feet .

 

7. How does Evelyn hear music? (For 5 marks)

Ans: Evelyn does not hear music, she feels it. She senses the notes through different parts of her body. Initially, she was encouraged by percussionist Ron Forbes, who tuned two drums to different notes and asked her to sense the sound without using her ears. She realized that she could feel the higher drum from the waist up and the lower drum from the waist down. This exercise helped Evelyn to open up her mind and body to sounds and vibrations.

Evelyn explains that when she plays the xylophone, she senses the sound flowing up the stick and into her fingertips. She leans against the drums, stands barefoot on a wooden platform so that she can feel the vibrations. She says how her whole body including her hair is sensitive to  music and its resonances.

 

8.Name the various places and causes for which Evelyn performs.

Ans: Evelyn gives solo performances at regular concerts. Apart from these, she gives free concerts in prisons and hospitals. Through music she wants to spread the message of love and peace to prisoners and sick people.

 

THE SHEHNAI OF BISMILLAH KHAN

 

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

Ans:Aurangzeb banned the playing of the pungi because it had a shrill and unpleasant sound.

2. How is a shehnai different from a pungi?

Ans.:  Shehnai is longer and broader than the pungi and has a better tonal quality than pungi. It produces soft and melodious sounds in comparison to pungi.

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

Ans.:  Traditionally, the shehnai was part of the naubat or traditional ensemble of nine instruments found at royal courts.  It was played  in temples and weddings. Bismillah Khan changed this by bringing it onto the classical stage.

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

Ans.:  Bismillah Khan got his big break in 1938 with the opening of the All India Radio in Lucknow.

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

Ans.:  On 15 August 1947, Bismillah Khan played the Raag Kaafi on his shehnai from the Red Fort. The event was historical because it was on the occasion of India’s Independence from British Rule.

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

Ans.:  Bismillah Khan refused one of his student’s request to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A. because he would not live away from Hindustan, specifically, from Benaras, the River Ganga and Dumraon.

7. When did Bismillah Khan pass away?

Ans: Bismillah Khan passed away on 21^st August 2006 at the age of ninety.

 

8.How did “Pungi” get its new name ? What was it ?  Or/
How did shehnai get its name?

Ans: Pungi, which was banned by Aurangzeb for its shrill sound, modified and perfected by a barber which was very much appreciated by the emperor.

Since, it was played for the first time in Shah’s chamber by a Nai, it came to be known as ‘Shehnai.’

 

9. When was Bismillah Khan born?

Ans: Bismillah Khan was born on 21^st March 1916.

10. What was the name of Bismillah’s grandfather?

Ans: Bismillah’s grandfather name was

Rasool Bux Khan.