Prose Chapter 2 - The Sound of Music
AP- SCERT / NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive
Chapter 2 – The Sound of Music
Part I - Evelyn Glennie Listens to Sound without Hearing it
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?
Evelyn went to the Royal Academy of Music in London when she was seventeen years old.
2. When was her deafness first noticed? When was it confirmed?
When Evelyn was around eight her deafness was first noticed and it was confirmed when she turned eleven.
II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph.
1. Who helped her to continue with music? What did he do and say?
Percussionist Ron Forbes helped her to continue with music. He taught her gradually and asked her to sense the sound in some other manner rather than listening to it.
2.Name the various places and causes for which Evelyn performs.
Evelyn gave solo performances at regular concerts internationally. She also performed for free in prisons and hospitals. Apart from that, she accorded 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?
Evelyn was declared deaf at the age of eleven, yet she had a deep interest and taste in music. It was fascinating to watch her create beautiful pieces of music without actually being able to listen to it. She was encouraged by Rin Forbes to try to sense music without using her ears. He tuned two drums into two different notes and she could feel the higher drum from her waist up and the lower tuned drum from her waist down. Similarly, she played the xylophone. She could feel the vibration of the music from the stick into her fingertips. While performing on a wooden platform she removed her shoes to feel the vibrations from her feet, up her legs. It tingled her and the sensation helped her develop a deeper bond with music.
Part II - The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan
Thinking about the text
I.Tick the right answer.
1.The (shehnai, pungi) was a ‘reeded noisemaker.’
The pungi was a ‘reeded noisemaker.’
2.(Bismillah Khan, A barber, Ali Bux) transformed the pungi into a shehnai.
A barber transformed the pungi into a shehnai.
3.Bismillah Khan’s paternal ancestors were (barbers, professional musicians).
Bismillah Khan’s paternal ancestors were professional musicians.
4.Bismillah Khan learnt to play the shehnai from (Ali Bux, Paigambar Bux, Ustad Faiyaaz Khan).
Bismillah Khan learnt to play the shehnai from Ali Bux.
5. Bismillah Khan’s first trip abroad was to (Afghanistan, U.S.A., Canada).
Bismillah Khan’s first trip abroad was to 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 - positive
2. the film world - negative
3. migrating to the U.S.A - negative
4. playing at temples- positive
5. getting the Bharat Ratna - positive
6. the banks of the Ganga - positive
7. leaving Benaras and Dumraon - negative
III.Answer these questions in 30–40 words.
1. Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of the pungi?
Pungi had a shrill and unpleasant sound and was disliked by Aurangzeb. Hence, he banned the playing of pungi.
2.How is a shehnai different from a pungi?
Shehnai is a hollow pipe made from a stem and has holes in its body. It has a better sound quality than pungi.
3. Where was the shehnai played traditionally? How did Bismillah Khan change this?
Shehnai was played in royal courts, temples, and weddings. Ustaad Bismillah Khan changed the tradition by bringing it onto the classical stage.
4. When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break?
In 1938 when All India Radio was opened in Lucknow, Bismillah Khan was invited to perform shenai on the radio. He got his big break then and soon became an often-heard player on the radio.
5.Where did Bismillah Khan play the shehnai on 15 August 1947? Why was the event historic?
Bismillah Khan played Raag Kafi from the Red Fort on 15 August 1947 and it was a historical event because India received independence on that day from the British empire.
6.Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A.?
Bismillah Khan loved his country and would not leave it for any monetary gains. he felt rooted living near Benaras, the River Ganga. He declined his student’s request to start a shehnai school in U.S.A.
7. Find at least two instances in the text which tell you that Bismillah Khan loves India and Benaras.
Bismillah Khan loved his country. He declined a student’s offer to start a shehnai school in U.S.A., since it would keep him away from his country. He also refused Shekhar Gupta’s offer to move to Pakistan during partition and was stern and never left Benaras.
Thinking about language
I. Complete the following sentences. Beginning with a to-verb, try to answer the questions in brackets.
1. The school sports team hopes______________ (What does it hope to do?)
The school sports team hopes to win the match.
2. We all want ____________ (What do we all want to do?)
We all want to go to succeed in our life.
3. They advised the hearing-impaired child’s mother ____________ (What did they advise her to do?)
They advised the hearing-impaired child’s mother to consult a doctor.
4. The authorities permitted us to ____________(What did the authorities permit us to do?)
The authorities permitted us to ride the bike.
5. A musician decided to ____________ (What did the musician decide to do?)
A musician decided to open a school for children.
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 (1) _____________
the royal residence
2.the state of being alone (5) _____________
solitude
3.a part which is absolutely necessary (2) ____________
indispensable
4.to do something not done before (5) ____________
invent
5.without much effort (13) _______________
effortlessly
6.quickly and in large quantities (9) ____________and _____________
thick and fast
III.Tick the right answer.
1.When something is revived, it (remains dead/lives again).
When something is revived, it lives again.
2.When a government bans something, it wants it (stopped/started).
When a government bans something, it wants it stopped.
3. When something is considered auspicious, (welcome it/avoid it).
When something is considered auspicious, welcome it.
4. When we take to something, we find it (boring/interesting).
When we talk about something, we find it interesting.
5. When you appreciate something, you (find it good and useful/find it of no use).
When you appreciate something, you find it good and useful.
6. When you replicate something, you do it (for the first time/for the second time).
When you replicate something, you do it for the second time.
7. When we come to terms with something, it is (still upsetting/no longer upsetting).
When we come to terms with something, it is no longer upsetting.
IV. Consult your dictionary and complete the following table. The first one has
been done for you
1. She is indispensable for the successful completion of the project.
2. Sunita was impressed by my singing.
3. He is afraid of dogs.
4. I love to stay with my paternal uncle.
5. Gowtham was showered with countless gifts.
6. My grandmother gave me a priceless piece of advice.
Writing
"If you work hard and know where you're going, you'll get there," says Evelyn Glennie. You have now read about two musicians, Evelyn Glennie and Ustad Bismillah Khan. Do you think that they both worked hard? Where did they want to go' ? Answer these questions in two paragraphs, one on each of the two musicians.
Evelyn Glennie, the renowned percussionist, is a testament to the power of hard work. Despite being profoundly deaf, she never let that hinder her passion for music. Through relentless practice and determination, Glennie became a virtuoso in her field, performing with prestigious orchestras and winning numerous awards. Ustad Bismillah Khan, the legendary shehnai maestro from India, worked tirelessly to elevate the shehnai's status and gain global recognition. With unwavering dedication, he immersed himself in classical music traditions, honing his skills and captivating audiences with his soulful performances. His efforts were rewarded with international acclaim and the prestigious Bharat Ratna award.
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