CLASS IX CH - 2 THE SOUND OF MUSIC
1. How old was Evelyn when she went to the Royal Academy of Music?
Ans. 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?
Ans. Evelyn's loss of hearing was gradual. Her deafness was first noticed at the age of eight when she was waiting for her piano class and her mother called her name. Evelyn did not respond and then her mother realised that she did not hear anything. For quite a while Evelyn managed to hide her problem from her friends and teachers. Her marks started deteriorating and her headmistress urged her parents to consult a specialist. Then it was found that her hearing was severely impaired due to gradual nerve damage.
3. Who helped her to continue with music? What did he do and say?
Ans. While most of her teachers discouraged her from pursuing music, yet percussionist Ron Forbes' noticed that Evelyn had potential and helped her to continue music. He began by tuning two large drum to different notes. He then asked Evelyn to try and listen to music through her body than ears. Suddenly Evelyn realised that she could feel the higher note waist up and the lower notes waist down. Slowly and steadily Evelyn trained herself to listen to music with the help of different parts of the body like skin, hair etc.
4. Name the various places and causes for which Evelyn performs.
Ans. Evelyn always delighted the audience with her performance. She toured the United Kingdom with a youth orchestra. Later she started giving solo performances. Apart from the regular concerts, she used to give free concerts in prisons and hospitals. She gave high priority to classed for young musicians and was a shining inspiration for deaf children.
5. How does Evelyn hear music?
Ans. Evelyn heard music by sensing the notes in different parts of the body. Under the guidance of Ron Forbes she learnt how to open her mind and body to sounds and vibrations. When she played the xylophone, she could sense the sound passing up the stick into her fingertips. By leaning against the drums, she could feel the resonance flowing into her body. On wooden platform, she removed her shoes so that the vibrations could pass through her bare feet and up her legs. She herself said that music poured in through every part of her body. It tingled in the skin, her cheekbones and even in her hair.
6. Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of the pungi?
Ans The pungi produced a shrill and unpleasant sound due to which Aurangzeb banned the playing of the instrument at his royal residence.
7. How is the shennai different from a pungi?
Ans. The barber chose a pipe with a natural hollow stem that was longer and broader than the pungi, which resulted in the shennai having a better tonal quality.
8. Where was the shennai played traditionally? How did Bismillah Khan change this?
Ans Shennai was traditionally part of the ensemble of nine instruments played in the Royal courts. Its music was considered to be auspicious therefore, it was mostly played in temples and weddings. Later, Bismillah Khan changed it by playing in concerts and introducing it onto a classical stage.
9. When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break?
Ans. With the opening of the All India Radio in Lucknow in 1938, Bismillah Khan got his big break when he was invited to play on air. He soon became an often heard shennai player on radio.
10. Where did Bismillah Khan play the shennai on 15th August 1947? Why was the even historic?
Ans. On the momentous occasion of India's independence on 15th August 1947, Bismillah Khan had the honour of greeting the nation by playing Raag Khali at the Red Fort. His tunes ushered the nation into an era of freedom which made the event historic.
11. Why did Bismillah Khan refused to start an academy in the USA?'
Ans. A student wanted to open a school of shennai in the USA. He even promised that he would recreate the city of Benaras for the maestro, however, the offer was turned down because even though Benaras can be recreated, yet Ganga cannot be transported. For Bismillah Khan, the city of Benaras with the holy Ganga and the temples give him the inspiration to produce the music which is revered by the world audience.
Ans. 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?
Ans. Evelyn's loss of hearing was gradual. Her deafness was first noticed at the age of eight when she was waiting for her piano class and her mother called her name. Evelyn did not respond and then her mother realised that she did not hear anything. For quite a while Evelyn managed to hide her problem from her friends and teachers. Her marks started deteriorating and her headmistress urged her parents to consult a specialist. Then it was found that her hearing was severely impaired due to gradual nerve damage.
3. Who helped her to continue with music? What did he do and say?
Ans. While most of her teachers discouraged her from pursuing music, yet percussionist Ron Forbes' noticed that Evelyn had potential and helped her to continue music. He began by tuning two large drum to different notes. He then asked Evelyn to try and listen to music through her body than ears. Suddenly Evelyn realised that she could feel the higher note waist up and the lower notes waist down. Slowly and steadily Evelyn trained herself to listen to music with the help of different parts of the body like skin, hair etc.
4. Name the various places and causes for which Evelyn performs.
Ans. Evelyn always delighted the audience with her performance. She toured the United Kingdom with a youth orchestra. Later she started giving solo performances. Apart from the regular concerts, she used to give free concerts in prisons and hospitals. She gave high priority to classed for young musicians and was a shining inspiration for deaf children.
5. How does Evelyn hear music?
Ans. Evelyn heard music by sensing the notes in different parts of the body. Under the guidance of Ron Forbes she learnt how to open her mind and body to sounds and vibrations. When she played the xylophone, she could sense the sound passing up the stick into her fingertips. By leaning against the drums, she could feel the resonance flowing into her body. On wooden platform, she removed her shoes so that the vibrations could pass through her bare feet and up her legs. She herself said that music poured in through every part of her body. It tingled in the skin, her cheekbones and even in her hair.
6. Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of the pungi?
Ans The pungi produced a shrill and unpleasant sound due to which Aurangzeb banned the playing of the instrument at his royal residence.
7. How is the shennai different from a pungi?
Ans. The barber chose a pipe with a natural hollow stem that was longer and broader than the pungi, which resulted in the shennai having a better tonal quality.
8. Where was the shennai played traditionally? How did Bismillah Khan change this?
Ans Shennai was traditionally part of the ensemble of nine instruments played in the Royal courts. Its music was considered to be auspicious therefore, it was mostly played in temples and weddings. Later, Bismillah Khan changed it by playing in concerts and introducing it onto a classical stage.
9. When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break?
Ans. With the opening of the All India Radio in Lucknow in 1938, Bismillah Khan got his big break when he was invited to play on air. He soon became an often heard shennai player on radio.
10. Where did Bismillah Khan play the shennai on 15th August 1947? Why was the even historic?
Ans. On the momentous occasion of India's independence on 15th August 1947, Bismillah Khan had the honour of greeting the nation by playing Raag Khali at the Red Fort. His tunes ushered the nation into an era of freedom which made the event historic.
11. Why did Bismillah Khan refused to start an academy in the USA?'
Ans. A student wanted to open a school of shennai in the USA. He even promised that he would recreate the city of Benaras for the maestro, however, the offer was turned down because even though Benaras can be recreated, yet Ganga cannot be transported. For Bismillah Khan, the city of Benaras with the holy Ganga and the temples give him the inspiration to produce the music which is revered by the world audience.
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