Amity International School, Noida

(English Department, Secondary School, 2022-23)

Class-9, Chapter-2
THE SOUND OF MUSIC

LESSON AT A GLANCE (All this work needs to be done in the English register)

⮚ The chapter deals with the aspects of music and the legendary musicians who achieved
excellence in their respective fields
⮚ Evelyn Glennie inspite of being deaf earned a name in the field of playing the xylophone.
⮚ Evelyn trained herself to hear despite of deafness and achieved great success by becoming the
world’s most wanted multi percussionist
⮚ She inspires the readers to hear music not only through the ears but through every part of one’s
being
⮚ Ustad Bismillah Khan, a shehnai maestro achieved excellence in the field of shehnai playing
⮚ He became the first Indian to greet the nation with the music of shehnai on August 15, 1947
⮚ He won many awards including the ‘Bharat Ratna’, India’s highest civilian award
⮚ Bismillah Khan had always showcased his love for his country, especially Benaras and Dumraon

PART 1
Evelyn Glennie Listens to Sound without Hearing It

REFERENCE TO CONTEXT QUESTIONS

It pours through every part of my body. It tingles in the skin, my cheekbones and even in my hair.
1. What is referred to as ‘it’?
a. Rain b. Blood c. Music d. Water
2. How did she hear ‘it’?
a. Through skin b. Through cheekbones
c. Through hair d. All of them
3. What did Evelyn want to pursue?
a. Fashion b. study c. Music d. none
4. How old was Evelyn when she went to Royal Music academy?
a. 17 years old b.18 years old
c.19 years old d. Below 17
5. Where was the Royal music Academy?
a. U.S b. Birmingham c. Paris d. London

RTC-2
 It was then discovered that her hearing was severely impaired as a result of gradual nerve
damage.

1. When was Evelyn's deafness noticed?

a. when she was 18 b. when she was 19
c. when she was 8 d. none
2. Who noticed it?
a. Her mother b. Her father
c. Jon Forbes d. None of them
3. When was Evelyn's 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
4. Why did people discourage Evelyn to pursue music?
a. it was not considered good b. it was difficult
c. it was expensive d. because she was deaf
5. Who spotted Evelyn's potential?
a. her father b. friends c. mother d. Ron Forbes

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (Answer in 20-30 words.)

1. What special achievement did Evelyn have in the history of Royal Academy?
2. When and how was Evelyn’s hearing problem noticed?

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (Answer in 40-50 words.)

1. How old was Evelyn when she went to the Royal Academy of Music? Why was she nervous
on her way to the academy?

2. Briefly describe the role played by Ron Forbes in the life of Evelyn Glennie.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS (Answer in 120 -150 words.)

“If you work hard and know where you are going, you’ll get there.” Remarks Evelyn Glennie. What does
it reveal about her character?

PART II
THE SHEHNAI OF BISMILLAH KHAN

LESSON AT A GLANCE
• Ustad Bismillah Khan, a shehnai maestro achieved excellence in the field of shehnai playing
 • He became the first Indian to greet the nation with the music of shehnai on August 15, 1947
• He won many awards including the ‘Bharat Ratna’, India’s highest civilian award
• Bismillah Khan had always showcased his love for his country, especially Benaras and Dumraon

REFERENCE TO CONTEXT QUESTIONS

Emperor Aurangzeb banned the playing of a musical instrument called pungi in the royal residence for
it had a shrill unpleasant sound.

1. What did Aurangzeb ban in his palace?

a. playing of Pungi b. playing Sitar
c. playing music d. none
2. Why was playing Pungi in Aurangzeb's palace banned?
a. it had a sharp sound b. it wasn't good
c. it was unpleasant d. all
3. Who thought of improving the sound of the Pungi?
a. a musician b. a singer c. a barber d. none
4. How is the Shehnai different from the Pungi?
a. Shehnai has a better sound
b. Shehnai looks more beautiful
c. Shehnai is made of wood
d. All
5. Who changed the perception of the Shehnai?
a. Tansen b. Evelyn c. Bismillah Khan d. All

RTC-2
He poured his heart out into Raag Kafi from the RedFort to an audience which included Mahatma
Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who later gave his famous ‘Tryst with Destiny’ speech.
1. Who is ‘he’ in these lines?
a. Mahatma Gandhi b. Ali Bux
c. Jawaharlal Nehru d. Bismillah Khan

2. Who all were present on the event of 15th August?

a. Nehrub. Gandhi c. All eminent people d. All
3. Shehnai is a refined version of which instrument?
a. No musical instrument b. mouth organ
c. Guitar d. Pungi
4. What credit is given to Ustad Bismillah Khan regarding shehnai?
a. inventing shehnai b. inventing pungi
c. bring shehnai onto the classical stage d. none of these
5. On August 15, 1947, which Raag was played by Bismillah Khan from the Red Fort?
a. Raag Malhaar b.Raag Deepak c. Raag Kafi d.Raag Megh

SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (Answer in 20-30 words.)

1.Why had Aurangzeb banned the pungi? Who had revived it and how?

2.Despite being successful why did Bismillah not take to the celluloid world?
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (Answer in 40-50 words.)

1. Despite being successful why did Bismillah not take to the celluloid world?

2. Why did Bismillah Khan leave the glamour of the film world and return to Benaras? What does this
tell you about him?

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS (Answer in 120 -150 words.)

Bismillah Khan, on receiving the Bharat Ratna, remarked, “Teach your children music, this is Hindustan’s
richest tradition; even the West is now coming to learn our music.” What does it reveal about his values
and character?

ANSWERS TO ‘THE SOUND OF MUSIC HANDOUT’

PART 1
Evelyn Glennie Listens to Sound without Hearing It
RTC-1

1. c. Music
2. d. All of them
3. c. Music
4. d. Below 17
5. d. London

RTC-2
1. c. when she was 8
2. a. Her mother
3. d. by the age of 11
4. d. because she was deaf
5. d. Jon Forbes

Short Answer Type Questions (20-30 words)

SAMPLE ANSWERS

1. When Evelyn auditioned for the Royal School of music, she created history by scoring one of the
highest marks in the academy. She even moved from orchestra to solo performances and by the
end of the three years she had captured most of the awards.

2. Evelyn was only eight-year-old when her hearing problem was noticed by her mother when she
was eight years old and she did not respond to a call for a performance on piano.

Short Answer Type Questions (40-50 words)

1. Evelyn was only seventeen years of age when she was selected to the Royal Academy of
Music, London. She had come straight from a farmland in Scotland, she had not experienced
much of the world. In addition, she was profoundly deaf and was going to a big institute like The
Royal Academy of Music. Her nervousness was the result of her young age, her lack of exposure
and her hearing disability.
2. Hint: Motivated and guided Evelyn to feel music-inspired her to achieve her dream.( Use the
given hints to write your own answer)

Long Answer Type Question

Value Points
● Clarity of aim
● Industrious nature
● Never gave up her passion for music
● Due to earnest efforts, moved from orchestra to solo performances to eventually achieve
international recognition
● Had the courage to overcome her disability
● Inspiration for many

PART II
THE SHEHNAI OF BISMILLAH KHAN
RTC-1

1. a. playing of Pungi
2. d. all
3. c. a barber
4. d. All
5. c. Bismillah Khan

RTC-2
 1. d. Bismillah Khan
2. d. All
3. d. Pungi
4. c. bring shehnai onto the classical stage
5. c. Raag Kafi

Short Answer Type Questions (20-30 words)

1. Hint:it had a shrill unpleasant sound-revived by a barber when he improvised the pungi
2. Hint: In spite of the two hit ventures in the film industry he said he could not come to terms
with the artificiality and glamour of the film industry.

Short Answer Type Questions (40-50 words)

1. Hint: In spite of the two hit ventures in the film industry he said he could not come to terms
with the artificiality and glamour of the film industry.

2. Bismillah Khan returned to Benares after providing music for two films – Vijay Bhatt’s Gunj Uthi
Shehnai and Vikram Srinivas’s Kannada venture, Sanadhi Apanna. This was because he disliked the
artificiality and glamour of the film world. He said, “I just can’t come to terms with the artificiality and
glamour of the film world.” This incident indicates that truthfulness and simplicity of Bismillah Khan’s
character.

Long Answer Type Question

Value Points
● His passion for music from childhood
● His struggle for pursuing his passion
● His hardwork and determination helped him overcome all obstacles and reach the heights of
success
● His roots in his own country and love for his culture

Note: The above given answers are for your reference for framing an answer. Feel free to add any relevant
point.

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