NCERT Class 9 English Chapter 2 The Sound of Music

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NCERT Class 9 English Chapter 2 The Sound of Music

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Also, you can read the NCERT book online in these sections Solutions by Expert Teachers as per Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Book guidelines. CBSE Class 9 English Solutions are part of All Subject Solutions. Here we have given NCERT Class 9 English Chapter 2 The Sound of Music and After, NCERT Class 9 English Textbook of Beehive and Supplementary Reader (Moments). for All Chapters, You can practice these here.

The Sound of Music

Chapter: 2

BEEHIVE – PROSE

Part – I: Evelyn Glennie Listens to Sound without Hearing It

PASSAGES FOR COMPREHENSION

Passage: 1

Evelyn Glennie’s loss of hearing had been gradual. Her mother remembers noticing something was wrong when the eight year – old Evelyn was waiting to play the piano. “They called her name and she didn’t move. I suddenly realised she hadn’t heard” says Isabel Glennie. For quite a while Evelyn managed to conceal her growing deafness from friends and teachers.

Questions

1. Who was Evelyn Glennie in her earlier days?

(a) A normal child. 

(b) A deaf girl.

(c) A percussionist. 

(d) A pianist.

Ans: (a) A normal child.

2. Her weakness of hearing was noticed when Evelyn:

(a) Started going school. 

(b) Was 8 year old.

(c) She did not move to play the piano. 

(d) Was unable to respond to anything. 

Ans: (c) She did not move to play the piano.

3. Who is ‘T’ in these lines?

(a) Evelyn.

(b) Teacher of Evelyn.

(c) Mother of Evelyn.

(d) None/ All of these. 

Ans: (c) Mother of Evelyn.

4. The correct meaning of the word ‘conceal’ in these line is:

(a) secret.

(b) hide.

(c) steal.

(d) weep in dark.

Ans: (b) hide.

5. When was Evelyn deafness confirmed?

(a) By the age of 5. 

(b) By the age of 6.

(c) By the age of 8. 

(d) By the age of 11.

Ans: (c) By the age of 8.

Passage: 2

But Evelyn was not going to give up. She was determined to lead a normal life and pursue her interest in music. One day she noticed a girl playing a xylophone and decided that she wanted to play it too. Most of the teachers discouraged her but percussionist Ron Forbes spotted her potential. He began by tuning two large drums to different notes. “Don’t listen through your ears” he would say, “try to sense it some other way.” Says Evelyn, “Suddenly I realised I could feel the higher drum from the waist up and the lower one from the waist down.”

Questions

1. Which quality do you think about Evelyn in these lines?

(a) A determined girl. 

(b) A ceaseless girl.

(c) A strong willed girl.

(d) All / none of these. 

Ans: (d) All/none of these.

2. She noticed one day a girl playing upon:

(a) a xylophone.

(b) a piano.

(c) harmonium.

(d) guitar. 

Ans: (a) a xylophone. 

3. Ron Forbes discovered in Evelyn a:

(a) potential for play.

(b) potential for music.

(c) potential for academic.

(d) potential for learning songs.

Ans: (b) potential for music. 

4. Ron Forbes was able to encourage the girl towards music and advised her to _________ it from the waist up and waist down.

(a) hear.

(b) understand.

(c) feel.

(d) sense.

Ans: (d) sense.

5. What was life of Evelyn?

(a) Dance.

(b) Nature. 

(c) Music.

(d) All.

Ans: (c) Music.

Passage: 3

She never looked back from that point onwards. She toured the United Kingdom with a youth orchestra and by the time she was sixteen, she had decided to make music her life. She auditioned for the Royal Academy of Music and scored highest marks in the history of the Academy. She gradually moved from orchestra to solo performances. At the end of her three-year course, she had captured most of the top awards.

Questions

1. Evelyn toured United Kingdom when she was:

(a) twelve.

(c) sixteen.

(b) fourteen.

(d) eighteen.

Ans: (c) sixteen.

2. Evelyn took a decision in her life and it was:

(a) making music her life.

(b) touring the world he life. 

(c) working laboriously.

(d) entering the musical field. 

Ans: (a) making music her life.

3. The word ‘scored’ means:

(a) obtained.

(b) got.

(c) awarded.

(d) secured.

Ans: (a) obtained.

4. After orchestra, Evelyn turned to: 

(a) music.

(b) tabla.

(c) xylophone. 

(d) solo performance.

Ans: (d) solo performance.

5. How old was Evelyn when she went to Royal Music Academy? 

(a) 17 year old. 

(b) 18 year old.

(c) 19 year old. 

(d) Below 17.

Ans: (a) 17 year old.

Passage: 4

It is intriguing to watch Evelyn function so effortlessly without hearing. In our two-hour discussion she never missed a word. “Men with bushy beards give me trouble”. She laughed. “It is not just watching the lips, it’s the whole face, especially the eyes.” She speaks flawlessly with a Scottish lilt. “My speech is clear because I could hear till I was eleven,” she says. But that doesn’t explain how she managed to learn French and master basic Japanese.

Questions 

1. Evelyn was a girl having the deformity of:

(a) seeing.

(b) hearing.

(c) walking.

(d) speaking.

Ans: (b) hearing.

2. According to Evelyn what is important during discussion?

(a) Watching the whole face.

(b) Watching the eyes specially.

(c) Watching the lips.

(d) Movements of the body. 

Ans: (b) Watching the eyes specially.

3. Evelyn got mastery in a language named:

(a) French.

(b) Scottish lilt.

(c) Music. 

(d) Basic Japanese.

Ans: (d) Basic Japanese. 

4. Trace the antonym of ‘found’ from the following:

(a) hidden.

(b) secret.

(c) missed. 

(d) lost.

Ans: (c) missed. 

5. From which lesson these lines has been taken?

(a) The Fun They had.

(b) The Sound of Music. 

(c) Packing.

(d) The Bond of Love.

Ans: (b) The Sound of Music.

TEXTUAL QUESTIONS

THINKING ABOUT THE TEXT

I. Answer these questions in a few words or a couple of sentences each. 

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

Ans: Evelyn was only seventeen years old when she went to the Royal Academic of Music.

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

Ans: Evelyn’s deafness was first noticed by his mother when she was eight years old. She was eleven years old when it was confirmed by a specialist. He said her hearing was severely damaged.

II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph. (of about 30- 40 words) 

Q.1. Who helped her to continue with music? What did he do and say? 

Ans: Percussionist Ron Forbes helped her to continue with music. He said she had the potential. He tuned two large drums and said to her, “Don’t listen through ears, but try to sense it some other way.” Indeed she was able to sense the vibration in her body.

Q.2. Name the various places and causes for which Evelyn performs. 

Ans: Evelyn gives free performances in prisons and hospitals. She also gives preference to the classes for young musicians.

III. Answer the question in two or three paragraphs (100-150 words): 

Q.1. How does Evelyn hear music?

Ans: Evelyn is a well known percussionist. She is the most sought after artist worldwide. But she is completely deaf. She cannot hear a single word or sound with her ears. But she was determined to continue to play music. It looked impossible. But percussionist Ron Forbes helped her. He tuned two large drums to different notes. He asked Evelyn to try to sense the sound. She was able to feel the vibrations in her body.

Music pours in through every part of her body. It tingles her skin, her cheekbones and and even hair. Learning against the drums, she can feel the resonances. On a wooden platform she takes off her shoes. Then she can sense vibrations pass through her bar feet and legs. When she plays xylophone she can feel the sound passing through the sticks into her fingertips.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATIONS

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTION

Answer these questions in about 30-40 words each:

Q.1. In spite of her deafness, how did Evelyn listen to music? 

Ans: In spite of her deafness, Evelyn was determined to pursue her interest in music. The percussionist, Ron Forbes helped Evelyn by teaching her to sense the music through different parts of her body. She felt music through its vibrations.

Q.2. When did Evelyn Glennie’s mother notice that something was wrong? 

Ans: Evelyn was a normal child till her eight year. At the age of eight, her deafness was first noticed by her mother when Evelyn was waiting to play the piano.. Her name was called but she didn’t move. Then, her mother realized that something was wrong with Evelyn. 

Q.3. What did Evelyn determine to do?

Ans: When Evelyn became deaf, she did not lose heart. She was determined to lead a normal life and pursue her interest in music. Due to her strong determination and handwork, she was able to become a renowned musician and performer.

Q.4. What did Evelyn determine to do? 

Ans: After she was diagnosed with learing impairment, Evelyn was determined to lead a normal life and pursue her interest in music.

Q.5. Who helped Evelyn to continue with music? What was his/her advice to Evelyn?

Or

Who was Ron Forbes? How did he help the young Evelyn Glennie?

Ans: Ron Forbes, the percussionist, encouraged her to be a musician. He asked her not to listen through ears but try to sense it some other way. She started feeling music through different parts of her body.

Q.6. What qualities of Evelyn’s character impress you most?

Ans: Evelyn lost her hearing but she did lose courage. It is unthinkable for a deaf person to become a musician, she worked hard. She says that anyone who works hard in the right direction, can achieve his goal. Thus hard work, determination and strong will impress us the most in Evelyn’s character.

Q.7. ‘Evelyn is a source of great pleasure to her audience.’ How?

Ans: Evelyn is much happy over her achievements. She has done that cannot be done by people double her age. Her music inspires all her listeners. She is an inspiration to the handicapped. Thus, she has given enormous pleasure to millions.

Q.8. What did master percussionist James Blades say about Evelyn? 

Ans: James Blades, percussionist was also much impressed by Evelyn’s presentation. Evelyn always delighted her audience. In 1991 when she was presented with Philharmonic Society’s prestigious Soloist of the year Award, James said that God may have taken her hearing but given something extraordinary.

Q.9. How did Evelyn’s deafness came to light?

Ans: Evelyn’s deafness come to light when her name was called and she did not respond. At that time she was eight years old. But when she was eleven years old her marks had deteriorated and her headmistress urged parents to take her to a specialist. It was then discovered that her hearing was impaired.

Q.10. Write down Evelyn’s message for the people.

Ans: Evelyn is a shining inspiration for deaf children. She has given inspiration to those who are handicapped. She has made the people believe that if she can do then why not others.

Q.11. How did Evelyn learn to open her mind and body to sound and vibrations?

Ans: She has learnt to open her mind and body to sound and vibrations. When she plays the Xylophone she can sense the sound passing up the stick into her fingertips. By learning against the drums, she can feel the resonance flowing into her body. On a wooden platform she removes her shoes so that vibrations pass through her body.

Q.12. What was her achievement? What did she say about it?

Ans: Evelyn worked hard with strong determination to learn music. She toured United Kingdom by the time she was sixteen. She auditioned for the Royal Academy of Music. At the end of three years she had captured most of top awards. Evelyn says, “If you work hard and know where you are going, you’ll get there”. 

Q.13. Why did Evelyn say “Men with bushy beards given me trouble?”

Ans: Evelyn is a deaf girl. She understands by reading the movement of lips and watching their eyes and faces. It is difficult to read movement of lips of men who have bushy beards or moustache. She, thus, remarks that men with bushy beards give me trouble.

LONG ANSWERS TYPE QUESTIONS

Answer the questions in about 100-150  words each:

Q.1. ‘Evelyn is a shining inspiration for deaf children’. Justify.

Or

Evelyn is a beacon of light for the differently abled. Support the  statement giving example examples from the text. 

Ans: Evelyn lost her sense of hearing at a  very young age. Initially she tried to conceal her growing deafness from friends and teachers. In Spite of being handicapped, she was determined not to give up. Her percussionist Ron Forbes guided her to sense the sound by tuning two large drums. She had learnt to open her mind and body to sounds. She never looked back from that point. Her hard work took her to the top, the world’s most sought after multi-percussionist. She delights her audience and got Royal Philharmonic society’s prestigious award. Her works have inspired deaf children. She has given inspiration to those who are handicapped, people who look to her. Thus she is beacon of light for the differently abled.

Q.2. How does Evelyn hear music? How is she an inspiration for the specially disabled people in the world?

Ans: Evelyn became completely deaf at the age of eleven. She had an earnest desire to become a musician. Ron Forbes, the percussionist, saw the potential in her and advised her not to hear music through the ears but try to feel it some other way. She tried and started feeling music through vibrations in her body. Now, music pours in through every part of her body. It tingles her skin cheekbones even hair and fingertips. Learning against the drums, she can feel the resonances. On a wooden platform, she takes off her shoes to feel the vibrations through her bare feet and legs.

Evelyn has mastered 1000 instruments. Today, she is the most sought after percussionist of the world. Her success story is a source of inspiration for specially disabled people in the world. They think if she has achieved so much, they too can achieve through similar determination and hard work.

Q.3. Apart from regular concerts, Evelyn also gives concerts in prisons and hospitals. She is a shining inspiration for deaf children. Evelyn shares her experience and achievements with others. She lives for a cause. Explain in about 100-120  words.

Ans: Evelyn got this position because of her strong determination and extreme hard- work. She confesses that she is something of workaholic. “I’ve just got to work”, she says. That is why, she did so well at the Royal Academy of Music, London. She had captured most of the top awards in three-year course. She is the world’s one of the most sought after multi percussionist. She has mastery in around 1000 instruments. She is one of the busiest performers in the world. She did it because as she tells us in her own words, “I had learnt to open my mind and body to sounds and vibrations.” She never looked back in her life. Her relentless efforts and dauntless courage with extreme hard work led to her success.

Q.4. Write the character sketch of Evelyn Glennie.

Ans: Evelyn was a slight girl of good looking appearance. She looked younger than her age. Though God has taken her hearing but given her something extraordinary. She became deaf at the age of eight. By eleven her hearing power was severely damaged.

In Spite of her handicap she did not want to give up. She took music in life. Her teachers discouraged her but percussionist Ron Forbes guided her. She took a three year course at Royal Academy of Music. She captured most of top awards at the Royal Academy. She is the world’s most sought multiplayer of drums and tables. She gives pleasure to her audience. She has a hectic international schedule

Part-II: The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan

PASSAGES FOR COMPREHENSION

Passage: 1

The Emperor Aurangzeb banned the playing of a musical instrument called pungi in the royal residence for it had a shrill unpleasant sound. Pungi became the generic name for reeded noisemakers. Few had thought that it would one day be revived. A barber of a family of professional musicians, who had access to the royal palace, decided to improve the tonal quality of the pungi. He chose a pipe with a natural hollow stem that was longer and broader than the pungi, and made seven holes on the body of the pipe. When he played on it, closing and opening some of these holes, soft and melodious sounds were produced.

Questions

1. Which of the instrument was banned by Aurangzeb to be played in the roval residence?

(a) Pungi.

(b) Guitar.

(c) Shehnai.

(d) Flute.

Ans: (a) Pungi.

2. This instrument was banned because it sound was:

(a) Sweet.

(b) Noisy.

(c) Shrill.

(d) Troublesome.

Ans: (c) Shrill.

3. Who brought a change in the pungi?

(a) A barber. 

(b) A violinist.

(c) A goldsmith.

(d) A snake charmer. 

Ans: (a) A barber.

4. On a body of a hollow pipe, he made ________ holes on it.

(a) Three.

(b) Five.

(c) Seven.

(d) Eight.

Ans: (c) Seven.

5. Which one is the synonyms of word ‘melodious’?

(a) Harmonic.

(b) Music.

(c) Both (a) and (b). 

(d) In harmonious.

Ans: (c) Both (a) and (b).

Passage: 2

The sounds of shehnai began to be considered auspicious. And for this reason it is still played in temples and is an indispensable component of any North Indian wedding. In the past, shehnai was part of the naubat or traditional ensembles of nine instruments found at royal courts. Till recently it was used only in temples and weddings. The credit for bringing this instrument on to the classical stage goes to Ustad Bismillah Khan.

Questions

1. Shehnai is indispensable in:

(a) South Indian wedding.

(b) North Indian wedding.

(c) Gujarati wedding.

(d) Sikh wedding.

Ans: (b) North Indian wedding. 

2. Who can be called the champion of the Shehnai?

(a) Emperor Aurangzeb.

(b) Bismillah Khan.

(c) Rasol Bux.

(d) Ali Bux Khan.

Ans: (b) Bismillah Khan. 

3. Shehnai is played since it is:

(a) Traditional.

(b) Sacred. 

(c) Festive.

(d) Auspicious. 

Ans: (d) Auspicious.

4. The word ‘indispensable’ means:

(a) Irresistible. 

(b) Essential.

(c) Without which a piece of work can’t be done.

(d) Restible.

Ans: (c) without which a piece of work can’t be done.

Passage: 3

As a five-year old, Bismillah Khan played gilli-danda near a pond in the ancient estate of Dumraon in Bihar. He would regularly go to the nearby Bihariji temple to sing the Bhojpuri ‘Chaita’, at the end of which he would earn a big laddu weighing 1.25 kg., a prize given by the local Maharaja. This happened 80 years ago, and the little boy has travelled far to earn the highest civilian award in India – the Bharat Ratna.

Questions

1. During his early five, Bismillah Khan was fond of playing:

(a) Hide and seek. 

(b) Wrestling.

(c) Gilli-danda.

(d) Bathing in the pool.

Ans: (c) Gilli-danda. 

2. At the estate of Dumraon, Khan used to sing:

(a) Film songs.

(b) Bhojpuri songs.

(c) Bhojpuri ‘Chaita’. 

(d) Gujarati songs. 

Ans: (c) Bhojpuri ‘Chaita’.

3. On singing, Khan was given:

(a) A laddu weighing 1.25 kg.

(b) One coin of eight annas.

(c) Bundi about 75 grams.

(d) One rupee.

Ans: (a) A laddu weighing 1.25 kg.

4. The prize was given by a:

(a) Priest of temple.

(b) Local Maharaja.

(c) Sarpanch.

(d) Pardhan of the concert.

Ans: (b) Local Maharaja.

5. Temple is a scared and religious place of the:

(a) Sikhs.

(b) Hindus.

(c) Muslims. 

(d) Christians.

Ans: (b) Hindus.

Passage: 4

Ali Bux would play the shehnai and Bismillah would sit captivated for hours on end. Slowly, he started getting lessons in playing the instrument and would sit practising throughout the day. For years to come the temple of Balaji and Mangala Maiya and the banks of the Ganga became the young apprentice’s favourite haunt where he could practise in solitude. The flowing waters of the Ganga inspired him to improvise and invent ragas that were earlier considered to be beyond the range of the shehnai.

Questions

1. Who taught the Shehnai to Bismillah?

(a) A barber.

(b) Ali Bux.

(c) Priest of temple.

(d) Maharaja.

Ans: (b) Ali Bux.

2. Which became the favourite haunts of Bismillah Khan?

(a) Balaji temple.

(b) Mangala Maiya temple. 

(c) banks of Ganga.

(d) All / none of these.

Ans: (d) All of these.

3. Inspiration of ragas was generated in Bismillah by:

(a) His uncle.

(b) Priest.

(c) Practicing.

(d) Flowing water of the Ganga. 

Ans: (d) Flowing water of the Ganga.

4. The word ‘apprentice’ can be well replaced with:

(a) A pupil.

(b) A novice.

(c) A student.

(d) A trainer.

Ans: (b) A novice.

5. Where did Bismillah accompany his uncle, Ali Bux at a very young age?

(a) Shiva temple.

(b) Ganesha temple. 

(c) Kali temple.

(d) Vishnu temple. 

Ans: (d) Vishnu temple.

Passage: 5

He played the instrument before royalty and everyone was impressed. The instrument so different from the pungi had to be given a new name. As the story goes, since it was first played in the Shah’s chambers and was played by a nai (barber), the instrument was named the ‘shehnai’.

Questions

1. There was the instrument played in the beginning?

(a) Royal chamber.

(b) Shah’s chamber.

(c) Barber’s shop.

(d) Banks of the Ganga. 

Ans: (b) Shah’s chamber.

2. The instrument was played on:

(a) A nai.

(b) A barber.

(c) Bismillah Khan. 

(d) Ali Bux.

Ans: (b) A barber.

3. Who had an access to the Royal Palace?

(a) A musician.

(b) A courtier.

(c) A barber.

(d) None/All of these.

Ans: (c) A barber. 

4. Shehnai is different from Pungi because of its:

(a) Melodious music. 

(b) Size.

(c) Hallow stem. 

(d) Holes.

Ans:  (a) Melodious music.

5. From which chapter these passage has been taken.

(a) Packing.

(b) The Sound of Music.

(c) The Fun They Had.

(d) The Bond of Love. 

Ans: (b) The Sound of Music.

Passage: 6

A barber of a family of professional musicians, who had access to the royal palace, decided to improve the tonal quality of the pungi. He chose a pipe with a natural hollow stem that was longer and broader than the pungi, and made seven holes on the body of the pipe.

Questions

1. The barber under reference belonged to the family of:

(a) Novice musicians.

(b) Trained musicians.

(c) Apprentice musicians.

(d) Professional musicians.

Ans: (d) Professional musicians. 

2. He made a decision to improve its ________  quality.

(a) Tonal.

(b) Shrill.

(c) Musical.

(d) Vocal.

Ans: (a) Tonal.

3. The barber made ________ hollow in the hollow stem.

(a) Seven.

(b) Eight.

(c) Five.

(d) Nine.

Ans: (a) Seven.

4. A barber is a fellow who:

(a) Shaves us. 

(b) Runs a saloon.

(c) Dresses our hair.

(d) Cuts the hair.

Ans: (b) Runs a saloon. 

5. Who is ‘he’ in this lines?

(a) Ali Bux.

(b) Bismillah Khan.

(c) Emperor Auranzeb.

(d) A barber.

Ans: (d) A barber.

TEXTUAL QUESTIONS 

THINKING ABOUT THE TEXT

I. Tick the right answers:

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 shehai from ________ (Ali Bux, Paigambar Bux, Ustad Faiyaaz Khan).

Ans: Ali Bux .

5. Bismillah Khan’s first trip abroad was to ________. (Afghanistan, USA, Canada)

Ans: Afghanistan.

II. Find the words in the text which show Ustad Bismillah Khan’s feelings about the items listed below. Then tick (✓) the correct column. Discus your answers in class.

Ans: 1. Teaching Children Music – Positive.

2. The Film World – Negative.

3. Migrating to the U.S.A. – Negative.

4. Playing at Temple – Positive.

5. Getting the Bharat Ratna Award – Positive.

6. The Banks of the Ganga – Positive.

7. Leaving Benaras and Dumraon – Positive.

III. Answer these questions in 30-10 words:

1. Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of pungi?

Ans: Pungi was a needed musical instrument. It produced shrill and umpleasant sound. Aurangzeb did not like it. So he banned its playing in his palace.

2. How is a Shehnai different from a pungi?

Ans: Both pungi and shehnai are made from a hollow stem. But shehnai is made from a broader and longer one. Shehnai has seven holes. Unlike the pungi. Shehnai produces sweet and melodious music.

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

Ans: Traditionally shehnai was played in temple and at weddings because it is considered auspicious. Ustad Bismillah Khan made new experiments. He produced new ragas that were earlier thought to be beyond the shehani’s scope. He raised its playing to classical level.

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

Ans: Bismillah Khan got his ‘big break’ in 1938. All India Radio was opened in Lucknow. He got a chance to play shehnai on radio. His melodious music could be frequently heard on the radio. This brought him fame, popularity and new opportunities.

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

Ans: India won her freedom on August 15, 1947. On this historic and happy occasion Bismillah Khan played shehnai from the Red Fort. He was the first India to greet the nation and congratulate his fellow citizens on this auspicious occasion in the traditional India style.

6. Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a shehnai school in the USA?

Ans: Bismillah Khan visited many countries but he was never at home anywhere. He always years to come back to India. He loved Nenaras, the Ganga, the temple and the mattha if his native Dumraon.

So, he refused to start a school in the USA. 

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

Ans: Bismillah Khan is a true patriot. He loves India and Benaras. He has refused to settle in any other country. He always comes back to India. Even during partition he remained in India. He visited Pakistan for namesake. But his love of Benaras is so deep that when he is in India he years to reach there as quickly as he can.

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 and teachers.

The underlined 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. Begin with a to verb and try to answer the questions in brackets.

1. The school sports team hopes _______ (What does it hope to do?

Ans: To win.

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

Ans: To live long. 

3. They advised the hearing-impaired child’s mother ________ (what did they advise har to do?) 

Ans: To take her to a specialist. 

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

Ans: Build a house. 

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

Ans: Take part in the concert.

II. From the text on Bismillah Khan, find the words and phrases that match these definitions. The paragraph number where you will find the words/phrases has been given for you in brackets. Write one word on each line.

1. the home of royal people (1) _______.

Ans: Palace. 

2. the state of being alone (5) ________.

Ans: Solitude. 

3. a part which is absolutely necessary (2) an _______.

Ans: Indispensable. 

4. do something not prepared before (5) _______.

Ans: Practice. 

5. without much effort (13) ________.

Ans: Effortlessly. 

6. quickly and in large quantities (9) _______ and ________.

Ans: Fast and thick.

III. Tick the right answer. 

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

Ans: Lives again. 

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

Ans: Stopped. 

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

Ans: Welcome it .

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

Ans: Intermingling.

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

Ans: Find it good and useful. 

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

Ans: For the first time. 

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

Ans: Still upsetting.

IV. Dictionary work:

1. The sound of the shehnai is auspicious.

2. The auspicious sound of the shehnai is usually heard at marriages. 

The adjective ‘auspicious’ can occur after the verb be as in (1), or before a noun as in (2). But there are some adjectives which can be used after the verb be and not before a noun. For example:

3. Ustad Faiyaz Khan was overjoyed. 

We cannot say: *the overjoyed man.

 Look at these entries from the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary [2005] Consult your dictionary and complete the table. The first one has been done for you.

Ans: Use these words in phrases or sentences of your own: 

Indispensable: She made herself indispensable to the department.

Indispensable: A good dictionary is indispensable to learn English.

Impressed: The impressed money could not last long. 

Impressed: She was suitably impressed. 

Afraid: Her fanatic appearance made me afraid.

Afraid: Donot be afraid to ask a question.

Outdoor: I am not really the outdoor type.

Outdoor: Come to India and enjoy the great outdoors.

Countless: I have warned her countless times. 

Countless: The new treatment could save the lives of countless others.

Priceless: Books are our priceless possession.

Priceless: You should have seen her face priceless.

SPEARING

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?

Ans: Here is some information about Kishori Amonkar you can find on the internet. Make notes to the main points about: 

• her parentage.

• the school of music she belongs to.

• her achievements. 

• her inspiration.

• awards.

Padma Bhusan 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 teachers 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 ragas. 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 Padmabhushan (1987), and the very coveted Sangeet Samradhini Award (considered as one of the most prestigious awards in Indian Classical Music) in 1997.

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

I am honoured to introduce… I feel privileged to introduce… we welcome you…

Ans: Ladies and Gentleman, 

I feel privileged to introduce to you a great classical singer Padma Bhusan Kishori Amonkar. She as you know, is the daughter of distinguished classical singer Morgubal Kurdikar.

Born in 1931, Kishori Amonkar started learning classical music from her mother’s guru Ustad Alladiya Khan at an early age. But as her style matured she moved away from her teacher’s Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana and developed her own individual style. She revived the ‘khayal’.

She is inspired by the teachings of the ancient sages of India, and listening to her ‘khayal’ is a spiritual experience.

Most coveted awards have been conferred on her. She received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards in 1985, Padma Bhushan in 1987 and the most prestigious Sangeet Samradni Award in 1997. Thank you.

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.

Ans: Facts About Two Musicians 

1. Evelyn Glennie:

Evelyn Glennie was a determined as well as strong willed girl. She worked hard to learn the music of her choice. Though she became deaf at the early stage and her teachers discouraged her yet the help of Ron Forbes brought fruits. He took drums for tuning. He asked her to realize the sounds through some other way. At last she felt certain notes passing through the different parts of her body. She accepted the challenge and auditioned for the Royal Academy of Music in London. She scored the highest marks. There she captured top awards. She became a world known percussionist. Thus she reached where she wanted to go.

2. Ustad Bismillah Khan:

Ustad Bismillah Khan is a famous player of shehnai. During his childhood his mother took him to his maternal uncle’s house. His uncle Ali Bux taught him playing on shehnai. For hours he sat beside him captivated. Ultimately the temple of Balaji and Mangla Maiya became his favourite haunt for music. The flowing water of the Ganga inspired him to improvise and invent ‘raagas’. He was heard in 1938 at the All India Radio, Lucknow. He was the first Indian who welcomed the nation on the first Independence Day. He participated in the films. He was awarded the highest Indian Civilian Award, “The Bharat Ratna’. Thus, Bismillah Khan travelled far to earn the most prestigious title. He also reached where he longer for. He has become a worldly musician of shehnai playing.

IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION 

SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Answer the following questions in about 30-40 words each:

Q.1. What happened in the year 1947 in the life of Bismillah Khan? 

Ans: On 15th August 1947 India got Independence. He was the first Indian to greet the nation with his shehnai from Delhi’s Red Fort. This day will remain memorable for him throughout his life.

Q.2. What were the recurring themes of Bismillah Khan’s music?

Ans: The recurring themes of Bismillah Khan’s music were the ethics of temples and the relationship between human beings. The flowing waters of the Ganga inspired him to improve and invent ‘raagas’.

Q.3. How was ‘shehnai’ different from ‘Pungi’? Why was it called ‘Shehnai’?

Ans: Pungi was an instrument like the flute, clarinet, etc. But it had a shrill, unpleasant sound unlike shehnai. Shehnai was called so, because it was first played in the Shah’s chambers and was played by a nai (barber).

Q.4. Why did Bismillah Khan not delve into world of cinema? 

Ans: Bismillah Khan had got a great chance to prove himself in the film world. A film ‘Gunj Uthi Shehnai’ was named after his instrument. He also gave music in Sanadhi Apanna. But he could not make himself to come to terms with the artificiality and glamour of the film world.

Q.5. What were the two favourite places of Bismillah Khan? How does he express his feeling about the two places?

Ans: Bismillah Khan held special love for Benaras and Dumraon. These two places remain for him the most wonderful towns of the world. He says that in Varanasi he thinks of only the holy Ganga. While in Dumraon he thinks about the unique mattha. 

Q.6. Who decided to improve on the quality of the ‘Pungi’? Did he succeed in his endeavor.

Ans: A barber of a family of professional musicians, who had access to the royal palace had improved the tonal quality of pungi. He chose a pipe with a natural hollow stem, longer and broader than pungi and made seven holes in the body of the pipe. When he played on it, closing and opening some of these holes, soft and melodious sounds were produced.

Q.7. Which place was Bismillah Khan particularly fond of and why?

Ans: Ustad Bismillah Khan is exceedingly fond Benaras and Dumraon and they remain for him the most wonderful towns of the world. He was fond of Hindustan, when in Mumbai, he missed Varanasi and the holy Ganga. When in Varanasi, he missed the ‘mattha’ of Dumraon.

Q.8. When and how did Bismillah Khan get his ‘big break’? 

Ans: In 1938, with the opening of the All India Radio in Lucknow Bismillah Khan get his big break. He was thereafter heard often on radio, playing his shehnai.

THOUGHT PROVOKING MODULE

PART – I: EVELYN GLENNIE 

Q.1. How is Evelyn a beacon of light for the differently abled?

Ans: Evelyn lost her sense of hearing at a very young age. She was handicapped but did not want to give up at any cost. She had strong determination and did not want to give up. She had learnt to open up her mind and body to sounds. She has given inspiration top the handicapped that if she can do it why not the rest. She is thus beacon of light for others to follow.

Q.2. A handicapped child is generally not welcome in our society. What effect does this practice have on the handicapped child? What values are taught to the society?

Ans: A handicapped child is considered to be burden as well as slur on society. She is considered to be a burden on the family. This behaviour makes her feel bad and depressed. But such a feeling or a reaction is wrong. At times handicapped child do something extraordinary and set an example for the society. 

The society must be taught that handicapped child should never be looked down upon. They must be respected in society and their contributions must be advertised in society.

Q.3. Do we today have teachers who are as sincere as Evelyn Glennie’s teachers?

Ans: Teachers are the makers of society. They guide students and want best for all. They can take society to any level. Evelyn Glennie’s teacher Ron Forbes spotted her potential. He taught her to tune music through two large drums. It was thus Ton Forbes who made her realise that how she could feel the music.

PART – II: THE SHEHNAI OF BISMILLAH KHAN 

Q.1. If you were Bismillah Khan and given a chance to start Shehnai school. How would you like the idea? Would you enjoy setting up school in USA?

Ans: If I were Bismillah Khan and given a chance to start shehnai school, I would feel very happy and delighted. But I know that setting up a school in USA would mean transporting holy river Ganga there. I know that shehnai held great significance to India and would not let its significance be lost. So I would not like my traditional values be lost.

Q.2. Bismillah Khan won many awards and recognition. Which was the first prize won by him and how did he feel on getting it? Suppose you got a prize and how did you react?

Ans: Bismillah Khan brought a great credit to the classical stage. The first prize he won was a big laddu weighing 1.25 kg. Even this was a great inspiration for all. After that he won many awards. All the awards gave him a lot of happiness.

Q.3. ‘Teach your children music, this is Hindustan’s richest tradition, even the West is now coming to learn our music.’ What light do these lines throw on the importance of Indian music?

Ans: Hindustani music has a very rich tradition. It gives all joy and carries forward Indian tradition. The Indian music has no limit and it offers a wide range. The people of West are being impressed by the Indian music. These lines teach us that no other country has tradition as rich as Indian music. Indian music is related to Vedas and gharanas. India has produced many great musicians which are respected throughout. The world.

LONG ANSWERS TYPE QUESTIONS

Answer these questions in about 100-150 words each: 

II. Answer the following questions in about 100-150 words: 

Q.1. Describe the life and character of Ustad Bismillah Khan.

Ans:  Bismillah Khan belonged to a very simple background. When he was a five year old boy he played gilli-danda near a pond in ancient estate of Dumraon in Bihar. He learned Shehnai under his maternal uncle Ali Bux. He took Indian classical music all over the world. Bismillah Khan has been winning awards from the age of fourteen. He got the best performance award at the Indian Music Conference in Allahabad and three medals at music conference in 1947. He greeted the nation with shehnai on the first independence Day. He was also honoured in Montreal and Osaka. In Tehran an auditorium was named after him. Highest civilian award Bharat Ratna was conferred on him.

Q.2. Ustad Bismillah Khan’s life is a perfect example of the rich cultural heritage of India. A devout Muslim like him had no qualms about playing Shehnai every morning at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple. Elucidate in about 100-120  words.

Ans: Ustad Bismillah Khan life is a perfect example of the rich cultural heritage of India. At the tender age of five, he would sing the Bhojpuri ‘Chaita’ at Bihariji temple at Dumraon in Bihar. He took lesson of Shehnai from his uncle and practised it in solitude at the temples of Balaji and Mangla Maiya and at the banks of Ganga. Despite having travelled all over the world, he is exceedingly fond of Benaras and Dumraon. For him, these are the most wonderful towns of the world. He loves India and whenever he has to go abroad, he keeps “yearning to see Hindustan”, thus his life is a perfect example of the rich cultural heritage of India.

Q.3. In spite of having travelled all over the world, why does Ustad Bismillah Khan find Dumraon and Benaras the most wonderful towns in the world?

Ans: Ustad Bismillah Khan’s life and art has a long association with Dumraon and Benaras. He was born in Dumraon and he perfected his music in the temple of Balaji, Mangala Maiya and the banks of the Ganga at Benaras. Ustad Bismillah Khan has been to several countries. He was honoured everywhere. Once a student of his suggested that he should settle in the United States and head a shehnai school there. He promised to recreate the temples of Benaras too. But Bismillah Khan declined the offer. He cannot tear himself away from the Ganga. He is a true Indian. He loves India. But when he is in India, he must go to Benaras and Dumraon. They remain the most wonderful towns for him.