Who helped Evelyn Glennie continue with music?

Percussionist Ron Forbes spotted Evelyn's potential and helped her continue with music. He tuned two large drums to different notes and told her to sense the sound through her body rather than her ears.

The Shehnai is a wind instrument made from a natural hollow stem, longer and broader than the pungi, with seven holes. It produces a soft, melodious sound and is considered auspicious in India.

Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to settle in the USA?

Bismillah Khan refused to settle in the USA because he could not live without the holy Ganga river. When a student offered to recreate everything else, he asked whether the Ganga could be transported too.

The Sound of Music Class 9 English Question Answer | Chapter 2 Beehive

Q: Where was Bismillah Khan born?

Bismillah Khan was born on 21 March 1916 in Dumraon, Bihar.

Table of Contents Quick Navigation

1 About the Story & Authors
2 Learning Objectives
3 Chapter Summary
4 Textbook Q&A — Part I (Evelyn)
5 Textbook Q&A — Part II (Bismillah)
6 Character Sketches
7 Themes & Central Ideas
8 Grammar & Writing Skills
9 MCQs — Part I (Evelyn)
10 MCQs — Part II (Bismillah)
11 Very Short Answer Questions
12 Short Answer Questions
13 Long Answer Questions
14 Important Extracts
15 Board Exam Preparation Tips
16 Common Mistakes
17 Revision Notes & Mind Map
18 FAQ Section
19 Related Resources

About the Story & Authors

Story Title

The Sound of Music

Part I: Subject

Evelyn Glennie (Deborah Cowley)

Part II: Subject

Bismillah Khan (Shehnai Maestro)

Genre

Biographic Prose / Profile

Main Characters

Evelyn Glennie, Bismillah Khan

Central Theme

Triumph over adversity through music

Textbook

Beehive (Class 9 NCERT/Assam Board)

Chapter Number

Chapter 2 (Prose)

About Part I — Evelyn Glennie: This piece is adapted from Good Vibrations: My Autobiography by Evelyn Glennie, with additional material by Deborah Cowley. Evelyn Glennie is a profoundly deaf Scottish percussionist born in 1965 on a farm in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Despite losing nearly all her hearing by the age of eleven due to nerve damage, she went on to become one of the world's greatest solo percussionists, mastering over a thousand instruments and performing with major orchestras worldwide. She is a recipient of the Soloist of the Year award (1991) and an OBE. Her story is one of extraordinary determination and the power of the human spirit.

About Part II — Bismillah Khan: This piece profiles Ustad Bismillah Khan (21 March 1916 – 21 August 2006), one of India's greatest musicians and a national treasure. Born in Dumraon, Bihar, he belonged to a family of court musicians. He single-handedly elevated the Shehnai — a traditional folk instrument — to the status of classical music, performing at India's first Independence Day celebration at the Red Fort in 1947. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2001, India's highest civilian honour.

Learning Objectives What you will learn from this chapter

Understand how Evelyn Glennie hears music through vibrations despite being profoundly deaf.
Appreciate the role of Ron Forbes in nurturing Evelyn's musical talent.
Learn about the origin and evolution of the Shehnai from the Pungi.
Understand Bismillah Khan's contribution to classical music and Indian culture.
Analyse the theme of perseverance, dedication, and the human spirit in both profiles.
Master grammar topics: to-verb constructions, adjective positions, and dictionary work.
Write high-scoring character sketches and long answers for board exams.

Chapter Summary The Sound of Music — Complete Overview

Chapter at a Glance

                This chapter has two parts. Part I profiles Evelyn Glennie, a
                deaf percussionist who hears music through her body. Part II
                profiles Ustad Bismillah Khan, who elevated the Shehnai to a
                classical art form and became a legend of Indian music.
              

Part I: Evelyn Glennie Listens to Sound without Hearing It

The story begins with a seventeen-year-old girl named Evelyn Glennie waiting at a railway station, nervous and excited about going to the Royal Academy of Music in London. She grew up on a farm in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Her love for music began at an early age when she was fascinated by sound.

When Evelyn was eight years old, her mother Isabel Glennie first noticed something was wrong. The young girl did not move when her name was called to play the piano. Over time, her marks began to drop. At the age of eleven, after consultation with a specialist, it was confirmed that Evelyn suffered from nerve damage and was nearly totally deaf. The specialist advised hearing aids and strongly discouraged a musical career.

However, Evelyn was determined. A percussionist named Ron Forbes spotted her potential. He tuned two large drums to different notes and told Evelyn: "Don't listen through your ears, try to sense it some other way." Evelyn opened her mind and body to sound, learning to feel the higher drum from the waist up and the lower one from the waist down.

She learned to feel music through every part of her body — through her fingertips when playing the xylophone, through her bare feet on a wooden stage, and through her cheekbones. She mastered some thousand instruments and built an extraordinarily hectic international performance schedule. In 1991 she won the prestigious Soloist of the Year award. She gives free concerts in prisons and hospitals and prioritises classes for young musicians, especially deaf children.

Part II: The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan

The Shehnai traces its origin from the pungi, a reeded noisemaker banned by Emperor Aurangzeb from the royal court for its shrill and unpleasant sound. A barber (Nai) from the family of musicians modified the pungi: he used a hollow stem that was longer and broader and made seven holes in the body. The new instrument, first played in the chambers of the Shah, was named the Shehnai (Shah + Nai). Its sound was soft and melodious and considered auspicious.

Ustad Bismillah Khan was born on 21 March 1916 in Dumraon, Bihar, into a family of court musicians. His grandfather Rasool Bux Khan played Shehnai at the Bihariji temple. Young Bismillah followed his maternal uncle Ali Bux to Varanasi and learned the Shehnai at the Vishnu temple. He would practise in solitude at the banks of the holy Ganga.

In 1938, All India Radio (AIR) Lucknow opened, giving Bismillah his big break. On 15 August 1947, India's first Independence Day, he played Raag Kafi from the Red Fort before Pandit Nehru. He went on to perform at prestigious venues worldwide — including Lincoln Centre Hall (USA). King Zahir Shah of Afghanistan gifted him Persian carpets. He acted in and provided music for films including Gunj Uthi Shehnai (Vijay Bhatt) and the Kannada film Sanadhi Apanna. He was awarded the Bharat Ratna in 2001.

Despite worldwide fame, Bismillah Khan refused to settle abroad. He refused to start a Shehnai school in the USA because he could not leave the Ganga. He remained a humble, deeply rooted patriot until his death on 21 August 2006 in Varanasi.

Board Exam Tip

                Both profiles share the theme of
                dedication, simplicity, and triumph over adversity. For long-answer questions, always connect the two parts
                thematically.
              

Textbook Questions & Answers Part I — Evelyn Glennie (Thinking about the Text)

Exercise I — Short Answers (a few words or sentences)

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

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?

Her deafness was first noticed when she was eight years old (when she didn't move to play the piano). It was confirmed when she was eleven years old, after a specialist discovered that her hearing was severely impaired due to nerve damage.

Exercise II — Short Paragraphs (30–40 words)

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

Percussionist Ron Forbes helped her continue with music. He spotted her potential when others discouraged her. He tuned two large drums to different notes and said, "Don't listen through your ears, try to sense it some other way."

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

Apart from her regular concerts, Evelyn gives free concerts in prisons and hospitals. She also gives high priority to classes for young musicians, serving as a shining inspiration for deaf children through the Beethoven Fund.

Exercise III — Long Paragraph (100–150 words)

1. How does Evelyn hear music?

Evelyn Glennie hears music not through her ears, but by sensing it through various parts of her body. After becoming deaf, she learned to open her mind and body to sounds and vibrations. Her mentor, Ron Forbes, taught her to feel the higher drum from the waist up and the lower drum from the waist down.

When she plays the xylophone, she can sense the sound passing up the stick into her fingertips. By leaning against the drums, she feels the resonances flowing into her body. On a wooden platform, she removes her shoes so that the vibrations pass through her bare feet and up her legs. She explains that music pours in through every part of her body — it tingles in the skin, her cheekbones, and even in her hair.

Textbook Questions & Answers Part II — The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan

Exercise I — Tick the Right Answer

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

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

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

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

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

Exercise II — Bismillah Khan's Feelings Table

Item	Feeling
1. Teaching children music	Positive ("Teach your children music...")
2. The film world	Negative ("Artificiality and glamour")
3. Migrating to the U.S.A.	Negative (Refused due to the Ganga)
4. Playing at temples	Positive (Regularly played at Balaji temple)
5. Getting the Bharat Ratna	Positive (Happiness glinting in eyes)
6. The banks of the Ganga	Positive (Favourite haunts)
7. Leaving Benaras	Negative ("Me, leave Benaras? Never!")

Exercise III — Short Paragraphs (30–40 words)

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

Aurangzeb banned the pungi in the royal residence because it had a shrill and unpleasant sound. It was known as a "reeded noisemaker" and the Emperor found it unbefitting of the court.

2. How is a shehnai different from a pungi?

The shehnai is made from a natural hollow stem that is longer and broader than the pungi. It has seven holes on the body and produces soft, melodious sounds, unlike the shrill pungi.

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

Traditionally, it was played in royal courts (naubat), temples, and North Indian weddings. Bismillah Khan changed this by bringing the instrument onto the classical stage and performing at international venues.

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

He got his big break with the opening of All India Radio (AIR) in Lucknow in 1938. He soon became a frequently heard shehnai player on national radio.

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

He played at the Red Fort. It was historic because he was the first Indian to greet the independent nation with his shehnai, playing Raag Kafi before Pandit Nehru and the nation.

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

He refused because he could not live without the holy Ganga. When the student offered to recreate the temples in the USA, Bismillah Khan asked whether he could transport the Ganga as well.

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

(i) He refused to live in the USA because of the Ganga river.

(ii) He refused to move to Pakistan during Partition, saying "Me, leave Benaras? Never!"

Character Sketches Evelyn Glennie & Bismillah Khan

Evelyn Glennie — A Woman of Extraordinary Will

Evelyn Glennie is one of the most inspiring figures in the world of music. Born on a Scottish farm, she loved music from childhood. When she was confirmed profoundly deaf at eleven, she refused to accept defeat. She is a person of immense determination and courage — she heard music not with her ears but with her entire body. She is hard-working (a self-confessed workaholic), humble (she accepts no hint of heroic achievement), and generous (she gives free concerts in prisons and hospitals). Her brilliance in mastering over a thousand instruments, performing at Lincoln Centre, and winning the Soloist of the Year award is matched only by her dedication to helping young and deaf musicians. In the words of percussionist James Blades, "God may have taken her hearing but has given her back something extraordinary."

Ustad Bismillah Khan — India's Shehnai Maestro

Ustad Bismillah Khan was a musician of unmatched depth, simplicity, and patriotism. Born in the musical town of Dumraon, Bihar, he came from a family of court musicians. He was a man of extraordinary dedication — he practised for years in solitude at the banks of the Ganga, waking before dawn, until the Shehnai became an extension of his soul. He was deeply rooted in Indian culture: he refused international offers to settle abroad, saying he could not leave the Ganga or Benaras. He was humble and spiritual, regularly playing at temples and attributing his gift to God. Despite receiving the Bharat Ratna, he remained simple and grounded. His life is a testament to the idea that true artistry grows from love of one's land and culture.

Themes & Central Ideas

Theme 1: Triumph Over Disability

                Evelyn Glennie's story shows that a physical limitation does not
                define a person's capability. Her deafness became the very
                source of her unique musical perception — she developed an
                extraordinary sensitivity to vibrations that hearing people
                cannot match.
              

                  Theme 2: Power of Dedication and Hard Work
                

                Both Evelyn and Bismillah Khan achieved greatness through years
                of relentless practice. Bismillah Khan's early morning riyaz at
                the Ganga and Evelyn's gruelling performance schedule show that
                talent alone is not enough — hard work is essential.
              

                  Theme 3: Love for One's Culture and Roots
                

                Bismillah Khan's refusal to leave India, his devotion to the
                Ganga and Benaras, and his lifelong service at temples
                demonstrates deep cultural rootedness. Music, for him, was
                inseparable from his land and heritage.
              

                  Theme 4: The Universal Language of Music
                

                Music transcends barriers of language, geography, and even
                hearing. Evelyn hears with her body; Bismillah Khan elevated a
                folk instrument to global acclaim. Both show that music speaks
                to the soul.
              

Grammar & Writing Skills Thinking about Language

I. Completing Sentences Using 'to-verb'

The school sports team hopes to win the match.
We all want to succeed in life.
They advised the hearing-impaired child's mother to consult a specialist.
The authorities permitted us to organise the fair.
A musician decided to improve the tonal quality of the pungi.

II. Dictionary Work — Word Definitions

The home of royal people: Royal residence
The state of being alone: Solitude
A part which is absolutely necessary: Indispensable
To do something not done before: Invent
Without much effort: Effortlessly
Quickly and in large quantities: Thick and fast

III. Tick the Right Answer

When something is revived, it lives again.
When a government bans something, it wants it stopped.
When something is considered auspicious, welcome it.
When we take to something, we find it interesting.
When you appreciate something, you find it good and useful.
When you replicate something, you do it for the second time.
When we come to terms with something, it is no longer upsetting.

IV. Adjective Positions

Adjective	Only before noun	Not before noun	Both positions
indispensable			✓
impressed		✓
afraid		✓
outdoor	✓
paternal	✓
countless	✓
priceless			✓

Speaking Task: Introducing Kishori Amonkar

"Good morning everyone. I am honoured to introduce to you a legend of Indian Classical Music, Smt. Kishori Amonkar. Born in 1931, she is the daughter of the great artist Smt. Mogubai Kurdikar. She belongs to the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana but has developed her own unique, intellectual style inspired by ancient Vedic sages. She is a recipient of the prestigious Padma Bhushan and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. Please welcome the finest female vocalist of her generation, Kishori Amonkar!"

Writing Task: Hard Work of Evelyn and Bismillah

Evelyn Glennie: Evelyn Glennie wanted to go to the top of the musical world as a percussionist. Despite becoming deaf at a young age, she worked harder than most classical musicians. She trained her body to feel vibrations, toured with orchestras, and practised endlessly. Her goal was to separate percussion from the orchestra as a solo instrument, which she achieved through sheer determination.

Bismillah Khan: Ustad Bismillah Khan wanted to go deep into the soul of Indian music. He practised for years in solitude by the banks of the Ganga to perfect his art. He worked hard to elevate the Shehnai from a wedding instrument to a classical masterpiece. He didn't want to settle in foreign lands; he wanted to stay in India and preserve its rich musical heritage.

Multiple Choice Questions Part I — Evelyn Glennie (15 MCQs)

Q1 Evelyn was nervous yet excited as she felt the ______ of the approaching train.

a) Noise

b) Vibrations

c) Wind

d) Heat

Q2 Evelyn is from a farm in:

a) England

b) Wales

c) Scotland

d) Ireland

Q3 Who is Isabel Glennie?

a) Evelyn's teacher

b) Evelyn's mother

c) Evelyn's friend

d) A famous musician

Q4 Evelyn's deafness was confirmed at the age of:

a) 8

b) 11

c) 17

d) 10

Q5 The specialist advised that Evelyn should be fitted with:

a) Glasses

b) Hearing aids

c) Braces

d) A wheelchair

Q6 Evelyn decided to play the:

a) Guitar

b) Piano

c) Xylophone

d) Flute

Q7 Who spotted Evelyn's potential?

a) James Blades

b) Isabel Glennie

c) Ron Forbes

d) Ann Richlin

Q8 Ron Forbes tuned two large ______ to different notes.

a) Guitars

b) Pianos

c) Drums

d) Violins

Q9 Evelyn toured the UK with a:

a) Rock band

b) Youth orchestra

c) Jazz band

d) Choir

Q10 In 1991, she won the:

a) Nobel Prize

b) Soloist of the Year Award

c) Grammy

d) Oscar

Q11 Evelyn confesses she is something of a:

a) Workaholic

b) Lazy person

c) Genius

d) Dreamer

Q12 Evelyn speaks flawlessly with a ______ lilt.

a) French

b) American

c) Scottish

d) German

Q13 She mastered basic Japanese and:

a) Spanish

b) French

c) German

d) Italian

Q14 Music tingles in her:

a) Skin only

b) Cheekbones only

c) Hair only

d) All of the above

Q15 Ann Richlin belongs to the:

a) Royal Academy

b) Beethoven Fund for Deaf Children

c) London Symphony

d) BBC

Multiple Choice Questions Part II — Bismillah Khan (15 MCQs)

Q1 Who revived the Pungi and made it into a Shehnai?

a) A musician

b) A barber (Nai)

c) A minister

d) A soldier

Q2 The Shehnai was first played in the:

a) Temple

b) Wedding

c) Shah's chambers

d) Garden

Q3 Bismillah Khan belongs to a family of musicians from:

a) UP

b) Bihar

c) Bengal

d) Punjab

Q4 Bismillah Khan was born in:

a) 1910

b) 1916

c) 1947

d) 2001

Q5 Who was Rasool Bux Khan?

a) Father

b) Grandfather

c) Uncle

d) Teacher

Q6 What prize did he get for singing 'Chaita'?

a) Money

b) A big laddu (1.25 kg)

c) Sweets

d) Clothes

Q7 Who was Ali Bux?

a) Father

b) Maternal uncle

c) Brother

d) Son

Q8 Ali Bux played Shehnai at which temple?

a) Shiva

b) Vishnu

c) Durga

d) Kali

Q9 Bismillah practised in solitude at the banks of:

a) Yamuna

b) Ganga

c) Godavari

d) Narmada

Q10 When did AIR Lucknow start?

a) 1938

b) 1947

c) 1950

d) 1930

Q11 Which Raag did he play on 15 August 1947?

a) Bhairavi

b) Kafi

c) Deepak

d) Malhar

Q12 Who gifted him Persian carpets?

a) King of Nepal

b) King Zahir Shah of Afghanistan

c) Shah of Iran

d) Queen of UK

Q13 Which film director named a film 'Gunj Uthi Shehnai'?

a) Satyajit Ray

b) Vijay Bhatt

c) Vikram Srinivas

d) Raj Kapoor

Q14 Bismillah Khan passed away in:

a) 2005

b) 2006

c) 2001

d) 2010

Q15 The sound of Shehnai is considered:

a) Sad

b) Auspicious

c) Scary

d) Loud

Very Short Answer Questions 1 Mark Each

Part I — Evelyn Glennie (15 Questions)

1. How old was Evelyn when she waited to play the piano?
Ans: Eight years old.

2. Who first noticed something was wrong with Evelyn?
Ans: Her mother, Isabel Glennie.

3. What did Evelyn want to pursue despite her deafness?
Ans: Music.

4. Which instrument did Ron Forbes play?
Ans: Drums (Percussion).

5. How did Evelyn feel the upper drum?
Ans: From the waist up.

6. How did she feel the lower drum?
Ans: From the waist down.

7. How long was her course at the Royal Academy?
Ans: Three years.

8. Does Evelyn accept any hint of heroic achievement?
Ans: No.

9. How many instruments has Evelyn mastered?
Ans: Some thousand instruments.

10. How is Evelyn's schedule described?
Ans: Hectic international schedule.

11. Why does Evelyn remove her shoes on stage?
Ans: To feel vibrations through her feet.

12. What does James Blades say Evelyn does with music?
Ans: She expresses it beautifully.

13. Who calls Evelyn a "shining inspiration"?
Ans: Ann Richlin.

14. What priority does Evelyn give in her work?
Ans: Classes for young musicians.

15. What has Evelyn brought to the front of the orchestra?
Ans: Percussion.

Part II — Bismillah Khan (20 Questions)

1. What is 'pungi' also called?
Ans: A reeded noisemaker.

2. Who banned the pungi?
Ans: Aurangzeb.

3. Who improved the pungi?
Ans: A barber (Nai).

4. How many holes does a Shehnai have?
Ans: Seven.

5. What is 'naubat'?
Ans: A traditional ensemble of nine instruments.

6. Where was Bismillah Khan born?
Ans: Dumraon, Bihar.

7. Who was Paigambar Bux?
Ans: Bismillah Khan's father.

8. Who was Rasool Bux Khan?
Ans: Bismillah Khan's grandfather.

9. What is 'Chaita'?
Ans: A folk song (Bhojpuri).

10. Where did he sing Chaita?
Ans: Bihariji Temple.

11. Which river inspired him?
Ans: The Ganga.

12. Where did he play on Independence Day?
Ans: Red Fort.

13. Name the film by Vijay Bhatt.
Ans: Gunj Uthi Shehnai.

14. Name the Kannada film he worked in.
Ans: Sanadhi Apanna.

15. Which US venue invited him?
Ans: Lincoln Centre Hall (USA).

16. What is 'coveted'?
Ans: Much desired.

17. What is 'mattha'?
Ans: Buttermilk (speciality of Dumraon).

18. Did he ever go to Pakistan?
Ans: Yes, once for an hour.

19. Why did he greet Pakistanis?
Ans: To say Namaskar and Salaam Alaikum (humorously).

20. Who is Shekhar Gupta?
Ans: The interviewer in the text.

Short Answer Questions 2–3 Marks Each

Part I — Evelyn Glennie

1. Why was Evelyn nervous yet excited on the train platform?

Evelyn was nervous because she was a young girl from a Scottish farm going to the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London. She was excited because she could feel the vibrations of the approaching train, marking the start of her extraordinary new journey in music.

2. What explains Evelyn's clear speech despite being deaf?

Evelyn explains that her speech is clear because she could hear perfectly until she was eleven years old. However, this does not fully explain how she managed to learn French and master basic Japanese later in life.

3. How does Evelyn contribute to society beyond performances?

Apart from being a world-class musician, Evelyn gives free concerts in prisons and hospitals. She also places high priority on conducting classes for young musicians, especially those with hearing disabilities, to inspire them.

Part II — Bismillah Khan

1. What is the legend behind the name 'Shehnai'?

The instrument was first played in the 'Shah's' (Emperor's) chambers and was played by a 'Nai' (barber). Combining 'Shah' + 'Nai', it was named 'Shehnai'.

2. Why was the event of 15th August 1947 historic for Bismillah Khan?

It was the day India gained independence. Bismillah Khan became the first Indian to greet the nation with his Shehnai from the Red Fort, playing Raag Kafi before Pandit Nehru and the assembled leaders.

3. Why did Bismillah Khan quit the film industry?

He quit because he could not come to terms with the "artificiality and glamour" of the film world. He preferred the purity and spirituality of classical music over the commercialism of cinema.

Long Answer Questions 5 Marks Each

Part I — Evelyn Glennie

1. Draw a character sketch of Evelyn Glennie.

Evelyn Glennie is a woman of immense determination and courage. Despite becoming profoundly deaf at the age of eleven, she refused to give up her dream of becoming a musician. She was a hard worker who practised for hours to perfect her art and is described as a workaholic. She is humble, refusing to accept any hint of heroic achievement for overcoming her disability. She is also kind and generous, giving free concerts in prisons and hospitals and conducting classes for young and deaf musicians. Her ability to feel music through her body rather than her ears reveals extraordinary sensitivity and creativity. She stands as a shining inspiration for people with disabilities worldwide.

2. "God may have taken her hearing but he has given her back something extraordinary." Justify this statement.

James Blades made this observation about Evelyn. Although Evelyn lost her hearing, she developed a heightened sensitivity to vibrations. She can feel music through her skin, cheekbones, hair, and feet. By removing her shoes on stage, she allows the vibrations of the music to pass through the wooden platform and into her body. She feels the resonances of drums by leaning against them. When she plays the xylophone, sound travels up the stick into her fingertips. This allows her to "feel" music far more deeply and completely than most hearing people ever could. Her physical deafness paradoxically gave birth to a more profound musical perception.

Part II — Bismillah Khan

1. Describe the role of Ustad Bismillah Khan in promoting the Shehnai.

Before Bismillah Khan, the Shehnai was a mere folk instrument played at weddings and temples. It was part of the naubat (traditional court ensemble) but had no independent classical standing. Bismillah Khan changed this completely by improving its tonal quality and developing new raagas on the instrument. He brought the Shehnai from the wedding procession to the concert stage. By performing at prestigious venues such as Lincoln Centre Hall in the USA, he put the Shehnai on the world classical music map. His historic performance at the Red Fort on Independence Day 1947 gave the Shehnai a permanent place in the Indian national consciousness. He is solely responsible for transforming a regional instrument into a symbol of India's classical heritage.

2. How does the author describe Bismillah Khan's love for his motherland?

Bismillah Khan's love for India, and especially for Benaras and Dumraon, is evident throughout the text. He refused to live in the USA, saying he could not leave the Ganga. When a student offered to replicate everything — temples, students — he simply asked if the Ganga could be transported too. During Partition, when many Muslims moved to Pakistan, he refused to move, declaring emphatically: "Me, leave Benaras? Never!" He regularly performed at Balaji temple and considered the banks of the Ganga his favourite haunt for practice. He longed for the taste of mattha from Dumraon even on foreign tours. His roots in Indian soil were so deep that no amount of international fame could pull him away.

Important Extracts Reference to Context — Board Exam Pattern

"Don't listen through your ears, try to sense it some other way."

Questions: (a) Who says this and to whom? (b) What does 'it' refer to? (c) What is the significance of this advice?

(a) Ron Forbes, a percussionist, says this to Evelyn Glennie.

(b) 'It' refers to the sound/music produced by the drums Ron Forbes had tuned to different notes.

(c) This advice is the turning point in Evelyn's life. It encouraged her to open her whole body — not just her damaged ears — to sound. It led her to feel music through vibrations, ultimately making her one of the world's finest percussionists.

"Me, leave Benaras? Never!"

Questions: (a) Who says this? (b) In what context? (c) What does this reveal about the speaker?

(a) Ustad Bismillah Khan says this.

(b) This was said in the context of the Partition of India, when pressure was put on Muslim musicians to move to Pakistan.

(c) This exclamation reveals Bismillah Khan's profound love for Benaras and India. It shows he valued his cultural roots over religious or political pressures. His identity was inseparable from the soil of Benaras and the holy Ganga.

"God may have taken her hearing, but he has given her back something extraordinary."

Questions: (a) Who says this about whom? (b) What has 'God given back'? (c) What literary device is used?

(a) Percussionist James Blades says this about Evelyn Glennie.

(b) What God gave back is the extraordinary ability to feel music through her entire body — through vibrations in her skin, cheekbones, hair, and feet — a perception deeper than ordinary hearing.

(c) This is an example of paradox — though God took something (hearing), He gave something greater in return. It is also an expression of admiration.

Board Exam Preparation Tips Score 100% in This Chapter

Character Sketch = 5 Marks

Both Evelyn and Bismillah are frequently asked as character sketches. For Evelyn: determined, humble, generous, workaholic. For Bismillah: dedicated, patriotic, spiritual, simple.

Know the Shehnai's Origin

The Pungi → Shehnai transformation is always asked. Key facts: banned by Aurangzeb, improved by a Nai, named Shah + Nai, has 7 holes, played in Shah's chamber first.

How Evelyn Hears Music

This is the most important concept. Always mention: vibrations through feet (bare, on wooden stage), fingertips (xylophone), cheekbones, and skin. Ron Forbes' role is essential.

Grammar Section

Master to-verb constructions and adjective position tables. The "tick the right answer" section (revived, banned, auspicious) always appears in grammar exercises.

Key Dates & Facts

Extract Questions

Three key extracts to practise: (1) "Don't listen through your ears," (2) "Me, leave Benaras? Never!" (3) "God may have taken her hearing." These are reference-to-context staples.

Common Mistakes Students Make

❌ Mistake 1: Confusing the ages

                  Evelyn's deafness was first noticed at 8 but
                  confirmed at 11. She went to the Royal
                  Academy at 17. Many students mix these three
                  ages up.
                

                    ❌ Mistake 2: Saying Evelyn is blind, not deaf
                  
                  Evelyn Glennie is profoundly deaf, not blind.
                  This is a common error. She hears through vibrations, not
                  sight.

                    ❌ Mistake 3: Confusing Rasool Bux and Ali Bux
                  

                  Rasool Bux Khan was Bismillah's grandfather;
                  Ali Bux was his maternal uncle who taught
                  him. Paigambar Bux was his father. Do not mix
                  these up.
                

                    ❌ Mistake 4: Writing 'Aurangzeb banned Shehnai'
                  
                  Aurangzeb banned the pungi, not the Shehnai.
                  The Shehnai was created after the pungi was banned
                  and improved by a barber.

                    ❌ Mistake 5: Incomplete character sketches
                  

                  A character sketch must include personality traits
                  with evidence from the text. Simply listing qualities
                  like "brave" without reference to specific incidents loses
                  marks.
                

Revision Notes & Mind Map Summary

🎵

Part I Subject

Evelyn Glennie | Profoundly deaf percussionist | Scotland | Feels music through vibrations

🎶

Part II Subject

Bismillah Khan | Shehnai Maestro | Bihar | Elevated folk instrument to classical stage

🥁

Key Mentor

Ron Forbes | Taught Evelyn to feel sound | Tuned two drums | Turned her life around

🎺

Shehnai Origin

Pungi → banned by Aurangzeb → improved by Nai → named Shehnai (Shah + Nai) → 7 holes

🏆

Awards

Evelyn: Soloist of the Year (1991) | Bismillah: Bharat Ratna (2001)

🇮🇳

Historic Moment

15 Aug 1947 | Red Fort | Raag Kafi | First Independence Day | Pandit Nehru present

💡

Theme

Triumph over adversity | Power of dedication | Love for culture and roots | Music = universal language

📌

Key Quote

"Me, leave Benaras? Never!" — Bismillah Khan's undying love for India

Frequently Asked Questions FAQ — The Sound of Music

Who is Evelyn Glennie and why is she remarkable?

Evelyn Glennie is a profoundly deaf Scottish percussionist who mastered over a thousand instruments and became one of the world's best solo percussionists. She is remarkable because she hears music through vibrations felt by her body — not through her ears — demonstrating that disability cannot stop a determined mind.

What is the difference between a Pungi and a Shehnai?

The Pungi was a small reeded noisemaker with a shrill and unpleasant sound, banned by Emperor Aurangzeb. The Shehnai was created by a barber who improved the Pungi: he used a longer, broader hollow stem and made seven holes in the body, producing a soft, melodious, auspicious sound. The name 'Shehnai' comes from Shah (Emperor) + Nai (barber).

What happened on 15 August 1947 in relation to Bismillah Khan?

On 15 August 1947 — India's first Independence Day — Bismillah Khan played the Shehnai from the Red Fort in Delhi, performing Raag Kafi before Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and the gathered leaders. He was the first musician to greet the free nation with his shehnai, making this a historic moment.

Why did Bismillah Khan never leave India permanently?

Bismillah Khan was deeply attached to the Ganga, the city of Benaras, and Indian culture. When offered opportunities to settle abroad, he always refused, saying he could not leave the holy Ganga. He even refused to start a Shehnai school in the USA because he could not imagine taking the Ganga with him. His identity was rooted in India.

What is the central theme of 'The Sound of Music'?

The central theme of the chapter is the power of music to transcend barriers — whether it is the barrier of physical disability (Evelyn) or social/geographical boundaries (Bismillah). Both profiles also emphasise dedication, humility, love for one's culture, and the belief that great art grows from deep roots.