Chapter 2: The Sound of Music

Part I
Evelyn Glennie Listens to Sound
without Hearing It

Thinking about the Text

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

1. How old was Evelyn when she went to the Royal Academy of Music?
   • Evelyn was seventeen years old when she went to the Royal Academy of Music.
2. When was her deafness first noticed? When was it confirmed?
   • Her deafness was first noticed when she was eight years old. It was confirmed by the time she was eleven.

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

1. Who helped her to continue with music? What did he do and say?
   • Percussionist Ron Forbes helped Evelyn continue with music. He encouraged her to feel the vibrations of the instruments instead of listening through her ears. He tuned drums to different notes and guided her to sense the vibrations.
2. Name the various places and causes for which Evelyn performs.
   • Evelyn performs in regular concerts worldwide, gives free concerts in prisons and hospitals, and prioritizes teaching young musicians. She aims to inspire and support those who are deaf or have other disabilities.

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

1. How does Evelyn hear music?
   • Evelyn Glennie hears music through vibrations. She senses the vibrations of the instruments in different parts of her body. For example, she feels the higher notes from the waist up and the lower ones from the waist down. She removes her shoes on wooden platforms to feel the vibrations through her feet. Evelyn has trained herself to feel the music with her entire body, allowing her to perform and understand music profoundly. This unique way of experiencing music has enabled her to become a world-renowned percussioni

Tick the right answer.

1. The (shehnai, pungi) was a ‘reeded noisemaker.’
   • Pungi
2. (Bismillah Khan, A barber, Ali Bux) transformed the pungi into a shehnai.
   • A barber
3. Bismillah Khan’s paternal ancestors were (barbers, professional musicians).
   • Professional musicians
4. Bismillah Khan learnt to play the shehnai from (Ali Bux, Paigambar Bux, Ustad Faiyaaz Khan).
   • Ali Bux
5. Bismillah Khan’s first trip abroad was to (Afghanistan, U.S.A., Canada).
   • 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.

Bismillah Khan’s feelings about	Positive	Negative	Neutral
1. teaching children music	✔
2. the film world		✔
3. migrating to the U.S.A.		✔
4. playing at temples	✔
5. getting the Bharat Ratna	✔
6. the banks of the Ganga	✔
7. leaving Benaras and Dumraon		✔

III. Answer these questions in 30–40 words.

1. Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of the pungi?
   • Aurangzeb banned the playing of the pungi because it had a shrill and unpleasant sound.
2. How is a shehnai different from a pungi?
   • A shehnai is different from a pungi as it has a longer and broader pipe with seven holes, producing soft and melodious sounds compared to the shrill noise of the pungi.
3. Where was the shehnai played traditionally? How did Bismillah Khan change this?
   • Traditionally, the shehnai was played in temples and weddings. Bismillah Khan brought it to the classical stage, making it a prominent instrument in Indian classical music.
4. When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break?
   • Bismillah Khan got his big break with the opening of All India Radio in Lucknow in 1938, where he became a regular shehnai player.
5. Where did Bismillah Khan play the shehnai on 15 August 1947? Why was the event historic?
   • Bismillah Khan played the shehnai at the Red Fort on 15 August 1947. The event was historic because it marked India’s independence.
6. Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A.?
   • Bismillah Khan refused to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A. because he could not leave the cultural and spiritual atmosphere of Benaras and the River Ganga.
7. Find at least two instances in the text which tell you that Bismillah Khan loves India and Benaras.
   • Bismillah Khan refused to migrate to Pakistan during Partition, showing his love for India. He also expressed a deep connection to Benaras and the Ganga, preferring their atmosphere over any other place.

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 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.

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

Answer-

Evelyn Glennie:

Evelyn Glennie, the renowned Scottish percussionist, exemplifies the power of hard work and determination. Despite losing most of her hearing by the age of 12, Glennie pursued her passion for music with relentless dedication. She developed a unique way to sense vibrations through her body, allowing her to “hear” and perform music at an exceptional level. Her goal was not just to become a musician but to prove that deafness is not a barrier to achieving musical excellence. Through sheer perseverance, she achieved international acclaim, performing with major orchestras around the world and earning numerous awards, including the Grammy Award. Glennie’s journey illustrates that with hard work and a clear vision, one can overcome even the most formidable challenges.

Ustad Bismillah Khan:

Ustad Bismillah Khan, the legendary Indian shehnai player, also epitomized dedication and a clear sense of purpose. From a young age, he devoted himself to mastering the shehnai, an instrument that was traditionally played in temples and on auspicious occasions. Khan’s goal was to elevate the status of the shehnai and introduce it to the classical concert stage. Through years of rigorous practice and a deep spiritual connection to his music, he succeeded in bringing the shehnai into the limelight, performing at prestigious events and receiving the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award. Bismillah Khan’s life story underscores that persistent effort and a clear direction can lead to groundbreaking achievements, transforming both the individual and the cultural landscape.

Wind (Poem)

The wind blows strongly and causes a lot of destruction.
How can we make friends with it?
Wind, come softly.
Don’t break the shutters of the windows.
Don’t scatter the papers.
Don’t throw down the books on the shelf.
There, look what you did — you threw them all down.
You tore the pages of the books.
You brought rain again.
You’re very clever at poking fun at weaklings.
Frail crumbling houses, crumbling doors, crumbling rafters,
crumbling wood, crumbling bodies, crumbling lives,
crumbling hearts —
the wind god winnows and crushes them all.
He won’t do what you tell him.
So, come, let’s build strong homes,
Let’s joint the doors firmly.
Practise to firm the body.
Make the heart steadfast.
Do this, and the wind will be friends with us.
The wind blows out weak fires.
He makes strong fires roar and flourish.
His friendship is good.
We praise him every day.
SUBRAMANIA BHARATI

A.K. Ramanuj

Thinking about the Poem

I. Questions and Answers

1. What are the things the wind does in the first stanza?

Ans- In the first stanza, the wind breaks the shutters of the windows, scatters the papers, throws down the books on the shelf, tears the pages of the books, and brings rain.

2. Have you seen anybody winnow grain at home or in a paddy field? What is the word in your language for winnowing? What do people use for winnowing? (Give the words in your language, if you know them.)

Ans- Yes, winnowing is a common practice in many agricultural communities. In Hindi, winnowing is called “अनाज फटकना” (Anaaj Fatakna). People use a winnowing basket, known as “सूप” (Soop), to separate grain from chaff by tossing it into the air so the wind blows away the lighter chaff.

3. What does the poet say the wind god winnows?

Ans– The poet says the wind god winnows and crushes frail crumbling houses, crumbling doors, crumbling rafters, crumbling wood, crumbling bodies, crumbling lives, and crumbling hearts. This metaphorical winnowing represents the wind sorting and sifting through the weak and the strong, emphasizing the destruction of the fragile.

4. What should we do to make friends with the wind?

Ans– To make friends with the wind, we should build strong homes, joint the doors firmly, practice to firm the body, and make the heart steadfast. Essentially, we should become strong and resilient so that the wind, symbolizing challenges, respects and supports us.

5. What do the last four lines of the poem mean to you?

Ans– The last four lines mean that the wind has the power to extinguish weak flames but also to make strong flames roar and flourish. This suggests that challenges can overwhelm the weak but can strengthen and empower the strong. The poet praises the wind, recognizing its role in fostering strength and resilience.

6. How does the poet speak to the wind — in anger or with humour? You must also have seen or heard of the wind “crumbling lives”. What is your response to this? Is it like the poet’s?

Ans- The poet initially speaks to the wind with a tone of frustration and irritation due to the destruction it causes. However, the tone shifts to one of understanding and acceptance, with a touch of humour, as the poet acknowledges the wind’s power and suggests ways to coexist with it by becoming stronger.

• My response to the wind “crumbling lives” resonates with the poet’s perspective. Like the poet, I recognize that challenges and adversities are part of life and that it is essential to build inner strength and resilience to withstand and grow from them. This proactive approach aligns with the poet’s message of adapting and fortifying oneself to transform potential destruction into an opportunity for empowerment.

II. The poem you have just read is originally in the Tamil. Do you know any such
poems in your language?

Answer
Yes, there are several poems in Hindi that convey similar themes of nature, strength, and resilience. One such poem is “अग्नि वीणा” (Agni Veena) by Sumitranandan Pant, which speaks about the power of fire and the strength of the human spirit. Another example is “कदम-कदम बढ़ाए जा” (Kadam-Kadam Badhaye Ja), a motivational poem that encourages perseverance and courage.