Class 9 English Chapter 2 The Sound of Music

Class 9 English Chapter 2 The Sound of Music, NCERT/SCERT Class 9 English Beehive Question Answer to each chapter is provided in the list of SEBA ইংৰাজী Class 9 Question Answer so that you can easily browse through different chapters and select needs one. Class 9 English Beehive Prose Chapter 2 The Sound of Music Question Answer can be of great value to excel in the examination.

Class 9 English Chapter 2 The Sound of Music

SEBA Class 9 English Chapter 2 The Sound of Music Notes covers all the exercise questions in Assam Board SEBA Textbooks. The SEBA Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 2 The Sound of Music provided here ensures a smooth and easy understanding of all the concepts. Understand the concepts behind every chapter and score well in the board exams.

PART – II

The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan

Thinking about the text 

I. Tick the right answer :

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

Ans: Pungi.

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

Ans: A barber.

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

Ans: Professional musicians.

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

Ans: Ali Bux.

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

Ans: 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.

Ans:

III. Answer these questions in 30-40 words.

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

Ans: Emperor Aurangzeb had banned the playing of the pungi in the royal residence because it had a shrill unpleasant sound.

2. How is a shehnai different from a pungi ? 

Ans: The shehnai is made from a broader and longer pipe which had a natural hollow stem as compared to the pungi. Moreover it has a very pleasant sound as opposed to the pungi which produced a shrill noise.

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

Ans: Traditionally the shehnai was one of the traditional ensemble of nine instruments found in the royal courts. Even until recently it was only played at temples and at weddings. Bismillah Khan changed this by bringing the shehnai onto the classical stage.

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

Ans: Bismillah Khan got his big break with the opening of the All India Radio in Lucknow in the year 1938. For he started playing there regularly and soon became a well known and often heard shehnai player on radio.

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

Ans: Bismillah Khan played the shehnai from atop the red fort on 15 August 1947. This performance by Bismillah Khan was historic because this was the day when India gained independence and his recita was followed by Jawaharlal Nehru’s famous “Tryst with. Destiny” speech. Bismillah Khan thus became the first India to greet the nation from the red fort on our very firs independence day, and his audience included the great men of that day.

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

Ans. Bismillah was totally and irrevocably in love with India an especially Benaras. He refused to start a shehnai school in U.S.A because he could not bear the thought of being away from India and his beloved Ganges.

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

Ans: Two instances which tell of Bismillah Khan’s love for Ind and Benaras are: Firstly, he refused an offer from one … students to move to U.S.A to open a shehnai school ther because he could not bear to be far from his beloved Ganga. And secondly, he is remembered to have said that whenever he is in a foreign country, he keeps yearning to see India.

Thinking about Language

I. Look at these sentences.

Evelyn was determined to live a normal life.

Evelyn managed to conceal her growing deafness from friends an 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_____ (What does it hope to do ?

2. We all want ____ ( What do we all want to do ?)

3. They advised the hearing-impaired child’s mother____ (What did they advise her to do ?)

4. The authorities permitted us to ____ (What did the authorities permit us to do ?)

5. A musician decided to ____(What did the musician decide to do ?)

Ans: 1. The school sports team hopes to win the tournament.

2. We all want to go to her party.

3. They advised the hearing-impaired child’s mother to take special care of her.

4. The authorities permitted us to visit the royal palace.

5. A musician decided to perform free of cost for the poor 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)____

2. the state of being alone (5)____

3. A part which is absolutely necessary (2)____

4. to do something not done before (5)____

5. without much effort (13)____

6. quickly and in large quantities (9)____ and ____

Ans: 1. the home of royal people ― royal residence. 

2. the state of being alone― solitude.

3. a part which is absolutely necessary― indispensable component.

4. to do something not done before― invent. 

5. without much effort_ effortlessly. 

6.quickly and in large quantities ― thick and fast. 

III. Tick the right answer.

1. When something is revived, it (remains dead/lives again).

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ans: 1. When something is revived, it lives again.

2.When a government bans something, it wants it stopped.

3. When something is considered auspicious, welcome it. 

4. When we take to something, we find it interesting.

5. When you appreciate something, you find it good and useful 

6. When you replicate something, you do it for the second time 

7. When upsetting. come to terms with something, it is no longer upsetting.

IV.  Dictionary work

The sound of the shehnai is auspicious.

The auspicious sound of the shehnai is usually heard at marriage. The adjective auspicious can occur after the verb be as in the firs sentence, or before a noun as in the second. But there are som adjectives which can be used after the verb be and not before noun. For example:

Ustad Faiyaz Khan was overjoyed.

We cannot say : the overjoyed man.

Look at these entries from the Oxford Advanced Learner’ Dictionary (2005).

elder adj.. noun

adjective 1 [only before noun] (of people, especially two members of the same family) older: my elder brother his elder sister 2 (the elder) used without a noun immediately after it to show who is the older of two people: the elder of their two sons 3 (the elder) (formal) used before or after sb’s name to show that they are the older of two people who have the same na e: the elder Pitt. Pitt, the elder.

awake adj., verb 

adjective [not before noun, not asleep (especially immediately before or after sleeping): to be half/fully awake; to be wide awake. I was still awake when he came to bed.

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

Use these words in phrases or sentences of your own.

Ans: 

indispensable: Songs are indispensable to Hindi films. 

impressed: We were impressed by the child’s piano recital.

afraid: I am afraid of the dark.

outdoor: Cricket is an outdoor games.

paternal: My paternal uncle lives in New York.

countless: There are countless stars in the sky. 

priceless: This vase is priceless.

Speaking

I. Imagine the famous singer Kishori Amonkar is going to visit your school. You have been asked to introduce her to the audience before her performance. How would you introduce her ?

Here is some information about Kishori Amonkar you can find on the Internet. Read the passage and make notes of the main points about:

her parentage

the school of music she belongs to

her achievements

her inspiration

awards

Padma Bhushan Kishori Amonkar, widely considered the finest female vocalist of her generation, was born in 1931, daughter of another great artist, Smt. Mogubai Kurdikar. In her early years she absorbed the approach and repertoire of her distinguished mother’s teacher Ustad Alladiya Khan. As her own style developed, however, she moved away from Alladiya Khan’s Jaipur-Atrauli gharana’ style in some respects, and as a mature artist her approach is usually regarded as an individual, if not unique, variant of the Jaipur model. Kishori Amonkar is a thinker, besotted by what she calls the mysterious world of her raagas. She dissects them with the precision of a perfectionist, almost like a scientist, until the most subtle of shades and emotions emerge and re-emerge.

She is very much inspired by the teachings of the ancient Vedic sages, written at a time when vocal music was highly devotional in character. This soul searching quality of her music, coupled with a very intellectual approach to raga performance has gained her quite a following in India and has helped to revive the study of khayal. Significant awards bestowed on this artist include the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1985), the Padma Bhushan (1987), and the highly coveted Sangeet Samradhini Award (considered one of the most prestigious awards in Indian Classical Music) in 1997.

Suggested Answer :

Notes ― Kishori Amonkar, Singer 

Born 1931

Mother ― Smt. Mogubai Kurdikar, great artist (singer). 

Mother’s teacher ― Ustad Alladiya Khan

Style ― earlier Jaipur, later individual

Inspiration ― Vedic sages

Raagas― dissects them like a scientist to display the most subtle emotions. 

Revived ― khayal

Awards ― The Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1985), the Padma Bhushan (1987) and the Sangeet Samradni Award (1997).

(II) Use your notes on Kishori Amonkar to introduce her to an imaginary audience. You may use one of the following phrases to introduce a guest. 

I am honoured to introduce…/I feel privileged to introduce…./We welcome you…..

Ans: Good evening everyone,

I feel privileged to introduce to you our next guest who is a widely renowned and accomplished singer and is justly considered to be the finest female vocalist of her generation. She is the one and the only Kishori Amonkar, the legend who dissects ragas with the precision. of a scientist, until the most subtle of shades emerge and re-emerge from them.

Born in 1931 to another great artist Smt. Mogubai Kurdikar, Smt. Amonkar was taught by none other than Ustad Alladiya Khan himself. Shifting away from the Jaipur Atrauli Gharana’ style, she has made her own mark and as a matured artist has developed her very own and unique style of singing, which is considered a variant of the Jaipur model. Inspired by the teachings of the ancient Vedic sages, her music has a soul-searching character. She is also credited with the revival of the study of khayal in India.

The winner of numerous awards including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Padma Bhusan and the much revered Sangeet Samradni Award, she has enthralled one and all with her melodious and soulful voice. And today we are honoured by her presence. Ladies and gentleman put your hands together to welcome the maestro herself, Smt. Kishori Amonkar.

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 thing that they both worked hard? Where did they want to ‘go’?

Answer these questions in two paragraphs, one on each of the two musicians.

Suggested Answer:

Evelyn Glennie worked hard to achieve her dream of not letting her disability stand in the way of her music. Being diagnosed with severe hearing problems at the early age of eleven, Evelyn showed much courage and resilience and by dint of sheer hard work, became an accomplished percussionist. By regular practice, she tuned her body to sense the vibrations coming from the different instruments which in turn helped her in sensing the music. It was her resolve, practice, and determination to lead a normal life that helped her become an expert percussionist. It is also the reason that she is credited for bringing percussion to the centre of the orchestra. Many years, awards and recognition later, it can be truly said that Evelyn Glennie has managed to achieve her dream of being an accomplished percussionist. And she could do this only because she had the will and determination needed to put in the hours of practice needed to master any instrument. Bismillah Khan took to the shehnai at the tender age of three and he never outgrew it. As a little boy Bismillah was fascinated by watching his uncle play the shehnai and accompanied him to all his recitals. When finally his uncle, Ali Bux started giving him lessons, Bismillah Khan would sit on the banks of the Ganga and or in the temple of Balaji or Magala Maiya and practice throughout the day. His patience and hard work led to Bismillah Khan becoming an exponent of the shehnai. Awards and recognition followed him and his shehnai till his last days and still continue. His willingness to learn coupled with his innovativeness led Bismillah Khan to being given the credit of bringing this instrument onto the classical stage. And all this was possible because of the hard work that he put in during his early years as an apprentice and his fondness for the shehnai.

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS

Answer the following questions :

1. How did Bismillah Khan’s student plan to recreate the atmosphere of Benaras in the U.S.A.? 

Ans: Bismillah Khan’s student planned to recreate the atmosphere of Benaras in the U.S.A. by replicating all the temples present there.

2. What were Bismillah Khan’s thoughts about teaching children music ?

Ans: Bismillah Khan wanted parents to teach their children the art of music. After winning the Bharat Ratna in 2001, he had remarked. that, children should be taught music by their parents because it is Hindustan’s richest tradition, which is being aped even by the West. 

3. Which is the auditorium named after Bismillah Khan ? Where is it located ?

Ans: The Tahar Monsiquee Ustaad Bismillah Khan auditorium in Tehran is named after Bismillah Khan.

4. Give two few instances from the text which show that Bismillah Khan was truly an international figure.

Ans: Two instances from the text which prove that Bismillah Khan was an international figure are: 

Firstly, he has an auditorium named after him in Tehran, called the Tahar Monsiquee Ustand Bismillah Khan auditorium in recognition of his talent. And secondly, the King of Afghanistan was so impressed by Bismillah Khan’s music that he gifted him priceless Persian carpets and other souvenirs.

5. From whom and how did Bismillah Khan begin learning to play the shehnai ?

Ans: Bismillah Khan started learning to play the shehnai under the able guidance of his maternal uncle, Ali Bux, who was an accomplished shehnai player himself.

At the age of three, Bismillah Khan visited Benaras with his mother. there he was so fascinated by watching his maternal uncles play the shehnai that he started accompanying his uncle to his performances. And it was uncle, Ali Bux who initiated him into this art. He was given lessons in playing the instrument and thereafter he used to sit practising the instrument for hours on end, at the banks of the Ganga or the temples of Balaji or Mangala Maiya in Benaras.

6. When and at what age did Bismillah Khan die ?

Ans: Bismillah Khan breathed his last on August 21, 2006 at the age of ninety years. 

Reference to the context

1.  “He poured his heart out into Raag Kafi from the Red Birk to an audience…”

(a) Who is the ‘he’ referred to here ? 

Ans: Shehnai maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan is being referred he’ here.

(b) What was historic about this performance ?

Ans: Bismillah Khan’s performance was historic because performance of his made him the first Indian to greet the from atop the Red Fort after India gained independence August 1947. His recital was followed by Pandit Ne famous speech.

2. “So well known did he become internationally that a auditorium in Tehran was named after him”

(a) Who is the he’ referred to here?

Ans: Ustad Bismillah Khan is being referred to as ‘he’ here

(b) Why do you think he became internationally known ?

Ans: Ustad Bismillah Khan became internationally well known because of years of hard work and determination which led to him becoming one of the exponents of the shehnai. He had mastered the art of playing the shehnai by putting in hours of practice. And in recognition of his talent, Bismillah Khan was awarded many national and international awards and became well known worldwide.

(c) Name the auditorium in Tehran named after him.

Ans: Tahar Mosiquee Ustaad Bismillah Khan.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Emperor Aurangzeb had banned the playing of which musical instrument ?

(a) pungi.

(b) shehnai.

(c) tabla.

(d) flute.

Ans: (a) pungi.

2. Which of the following was instrumental in giving Bismillah Khan a break ?

(a) India gaining independence in 1947. 

(b) Singing to an audience which included Pandit. Jawaharlal Nehru. 

(c) the opening of the All India Radio in Lucknow.

(d) Playing in the movie “Gunj Uthi Shehnai”. 

Ans: (c) the opening of the All India Radio in Lucknow.

3. Bismillah Khan was honoured with

(a) Padma Shri.

(c) Bharat Ratna.

(b) Padma Bhusan.

(d) all of the above.

Ans: (d) all of the above.

4. Bismillah Khan was exceedingly fond of 

(a) Benaras and Dumraon.

(b) Tehran.

(c) Lucknow.

(d) Mumbai.

Ans: (a) Benaras and Dumraon.

5. Bismillah Khan believed music was

(a) a cultural heritage.

(b) a form of prayer.

(c) the tunes of the shehnai.

(d) Hindustan richest tradition.

Ans: (d) Hindustan richest tradition.

THINKING ABOUT LANGUAGE (Additional Exercises)

1. In the following sentences identify the use of infinitive-to verb. A few options are given in the box:

(i) The match is about to begin.

Ans: Object of a preposition.

(ii) Our custom is to pray to the sun God early morning.

Ans: Complement of a verb.

(iii) To err is human.

Ans: Subject of a verb. 

(iv) I was quite taken aback so to speak.

Ans: Qualifies a sentence.

(v) Children are curious to learn.

Ans: Qualifies an adjective.

(vi) I came here to buy dresses.

Ans: Qualifies a verb.

(vii) Now is the time to celebrate.

Ans: Qualifies a noun.

(viii) He likes to play cricket.

Ans’ Object of a verb.

2. Here, a few usages of adjectives have been given :

(A) An adjective is placed immediately before the noun if used attributively.

(B) An adjective is placed after noun when several adjectives are attached to one noun.

(C) An adjective is placed always after noun in certain phrases.

(D) An adjective is placed after the verb be.

Identify the use of the adjectives in the following sentences.

(a) God Almighty helps us when we are in distress.

(b) King Ashoka was a mighty king, and a royal sport. 

(c) The dress of that lady is gorgeous.

(d) The soldiers, brave and resolute, marched ahead.

Ans: (a)–(C); (b)―(A); (c)–(D); (d)―(B)

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