THE SOUND OF MUSIC: THE SUMMARY AND QUESTION ANSWERS

 

THE SUMMARY OF "THE SOUND OF MUSIC":

Part 1: Evelyn Glennie Listens to Sound without Hearing It Summary

‘Evelyn Glennie Listens to Sound without Hearing It’ throws light on the life of famous Scottish multi-percussionist Evelyn Glennie and the struggles she faced to become a successful musician. She is a talented performer who knows how to play several instruments perfectly. It is interesting to note that although she is completely deaf, she has an extraordinary ability to sense music through her body rather than her ears. Evelyn was not born deaf, but she lost her hearing ability by the time she was eleven years old. Whilst she faced difficulty in hearing, that did not bog down her determination to pursue music.

Evelyn was keener to learn the xylophone at school when percussionist Ron Forbes recognised her potential. He encouraged her to sense the music through her body instead of her ears. After that, there was no looking back! Evelyn continued to scale newer heights ever since, and when she auditioned at the Royal Academy of Music, she scored one of the highest marks in the history of the music academy. She received several laurels, accolades and awards for her extraordinary par excellence performances on the global platform. In 1991, the Royal Philharmonic Society honoured her with the prestigious ‘Soloist of the Year Award’. Ann Richlin of the Beethoven Fund for Deaf Children stated that Evelyn is a beaming inspiration to specially-abled people. Thus, Evelyn Glennie continues to set an example by motivating everyone around her with her determination and delights millions of people with her outstanding performances.

The Sound of Music Part 2: The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan Summary

In Part 2 of The Sound of Music chapter, we learn about Ustad Bismillah Khan, the Shehnai legend and how the musical instrument ‘Shehnai’ came into being. The ‘Shehnai’ was first played in the Mughal Emperor’s chamber by a barber of a family of professional musicians. He chose a pipe with holes in it and played it by closing and opening some of these holes, thereby creating melodious sounds from the instrument. Legendary Indian Shehnai player Ustad Bismillah Khan was the maestro who popularized this musical instrument and gave it a global platform. He belonged to a renowned family of musicians and created new tunes and ragas which had not been explored before. From a young age, he was deeply inspired by the flowing waters of the river Ganga and would play on its banks at the temple of Balaji and Mangala Maiya. Bismillah Khan had a secular upbringing as he loved Benares and would naturally play the shehnai every morning at the Kashi Vishwanath temple on the banks of the holy river Ganga.

In 1938, Bismillah Khan got his big break with the inauguration of All India Radio in Lucknow. Later, when India became independent of British Rule on 15th August 1947, Ustad Bismillah Khan was the first Indian invited to play the shehnai as he greeted the nation with his stirring performance. Over the years, he achieved infinite success and garnered immense praise from music lovers, both nationally and internationally, for his soulful renditions. He was bestowed with several accolades and awards in India, such as the Padma Vibhushan, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri. He was also the recipient of the highest civilian honour in India, i.e. The Bharat Ratna.

Ustad Bismillah Khan represented India on the global stage too. He was the first Indian who was invited to perform at the distinguished Lincoln Centre Hall in the USA. He also participated in the Cannes Art Festival, the World Exposition in Montreal and the Osaka Trade Fair. He was so popular that an opera house in Teheran was named after him, i.e. Tahar Mosiquee Ustaad Bismillah Khan. Despite having numerous opportunities far and wide, the music maestro was very fond of India, particularly Benaras and his native town, Dumraon. On 21st August 2006, Ustad Bismillah Khan breathed his last after a prolonged illness and left a legacy of soulful music behind him.

Conclusion of The Sound of Music

The chapter – The Sound of Music illustrates how music binds people and is not limited to one person only. Music is a universal language that is loved and adored by all people. Here we bring you the CBSE Class 9 English Beehive Prose Summary of The Sound of Music that will help students to get a thorough understanding of the chapter. 

 Q1- Who was deaf in the lesson?

A) Evelyn
B) Ron Forbes
C) Bismillah Khan
D) Evelyn’s mother

Q2- 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

Q3- When was Evelyn’s deafness noticed?

A) when she was 18
B) when she was 19
C) when she was 8
D) none

Q4- 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

Q5- Who helped Evelyn to continue with her music?

A) her mother
B) teacher
C) father
D) Ron Forbes

Q6- Who spotted Evelyn’s potential?

A) her father
B) friends
C) mother
D) Ron Forbes

Q7- Which places had Evelyn worked for?

A) poor children
B) prisons and hospitals
C) schools
D) none

Q8- What was life for Evelyn?

A) dance
B) nature
C) music
D) all

Q9- Where was the Royal music Academy?

A) U..S
B) Burmingham
C) Paris
D) London

Q10- What did Evelyn want to pursue?

A) fashion
B) study
C) music
D) none

Q11- What did Aurangzeb ban in his palace?

A) playing of Pungi
B) playing Sitar
C) playing music
D) none

Q12- 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

Q13- Who thought of improving the sound of the Pungi?

A) a musician
B) a singer
C) a barber
D) none

Q14- 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

Q15- Who changed the perception of the Shehnai?

A) Tansen
B) Evelyn
C) Bismillah Khan
D) All

Q16- Where was the Shehnai played traditionally?

A) In temples
B) in wedding ceremonies
C) auspicious ceremonies
D) all

 

Q17- When did Bismillah get his first big break as a Shehnai performer? A) in 1938, when All India Radio came into existence B) 1945 C) 1987 D) 1989

Q18- Why did Bismillah refuse to go to the U.S.A.? A) because the Shehnai had no future there B) he didn’t like the place C) because of his love for Banaras and river Ganges D) all

Q19- Where did Bismillah play the Shehnai on 15th August 1947? A) at Ganga Ghat B) in Banaras C) near Red Fort D) at Kaashi

Q20- Why was the event of Shehnai Playing on 15th August a historic one? A) Bismillah became popular B) people appreciated his performance C) it was Independence day D) all

Q21- From where did Shahnai get its name? A) From barber (Nai in Hindi)-+ King (Shah in Hindi) B) From a Barber C) King gave its name D) None

Q22- Shehnai is a refined version of which instrument? A) musical instrument B) mouth organ C) Guitar D) Pungi

Q23- Where did Bismillah give his first break through performance? A) at the Red Fort B) at Varanasi C) at All India Radio D) U.S.A

Q24- According to the lesson,who was present on the event of 15th August,1947? A J L Nehru B M K Gandhi C Rajendra Prasad D All of these

Q25- 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

Q26- What did Ron Forbes advise Evelyn? A) forget music B) listen to music C) feel music with her body D) none

Q27- How did Evelyn hear music? A) through drums B) through fingers C) by feeling vibrations through her diffrent parts of body- fingers,hair,feet D) all

Q28- What did Evelyn want to spread through her music? A) message of love , peace and happiness B) music is not difficult C) music is not difficult for deaf people D) deaf people can learn music   Q29- Who played Shehnai at King’s palace? A) a barber B) a musican C) a singer D) a courtsman   Q30- What was the source of inspiration for Bismillah? A) Red Fort B) Royal Palaces C) Ganga Ghats D) None ANSWER KEY 1 A 11 A 21 A 2 A 12 D 22 D 3 C 13 C 23 C 4 D 14 A 24 A 5 D 15 C 25 D 6 D 16 D 26 C 7 B 17 A 27 C 8 C 18 C 28 A 9 D 19 C 29 A 10 C 20 C 30 C

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

Question 1.
How old was Evelyn when she went to the Royal Academy of Music?
Answer:
Evelyn was not even seventeen when she went to the Royal Academy of Music.

Question 2.
When was her deafness first noticed? When was it confirmed?
Answer:
Her deafness was noticed when she was eight-year-old. It was confirmed by the time she was eleven.

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

Question 1.
Who helped her to continue with music? What did he do and say?
Answer:
Ron Forbes helped her to continue with music. He spotted her potential and said, “Don’t listen through your ears, try to sense it some other way.” He began by tuning two large drums to different notes.

Question 2.
Name the various places and causes for which Evelvn nerforms.
Answer:
Evelyn performed free concerts in prisons and hospitals. She made music her life and performed many regular concerts.

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

Question 1.
How does Evelyn hear music?
Answer:
Evelyn became deaf by the time she was eleven. But she did not give up. She was determined to lead a normal life and pursue her interest in music. Ron Forbes, a percussionist spotted her potential. He asked her not to listen through ears but try to sense it some other way. She realized she could feel the higher drum from the waist up and the lower one from the waist down. Forbes repeated the exercise and soon Evelyn discovered that she could sense certain notes in different parts of her body. She learnt to open her body and mind to sounds and vibrations. She herself explained, “It pours in through every part of my body. It tingles in the skin, my cheekbones and even in my hair.” When she played on the xylophone, she could sense the sound passing up the stick into her fingertips. By leaning against the drums, she could feel the resonances flowing into her body. On the wooden floor she used to remove her shoes so that the vibrations may pass through her bare feet and up her legs.

Thinking about the Text
(Page 25)

Question 1.
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 musi-cians).

4.    Bismillah Khan leamt 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).

Answers:

1.    Pungi

2.    A barber

3.    Professional musicians

4.    Ali bux

5.    Afghanistan

Question 2.
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

Answers:

1.    Positive

2.    Negative

3.    Negative

4.    Neutral

5.    Positive

6.    Positive

7.    Negative

Question 3.
Answer these questions in 30-40 words.

Question 1.
Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of the pungi?
Answer:
Aurangzeb banned the playing of the pungi because it had a shrill and unpleasant sound.

Question 2.
How is a shehnai different from a pungi?
Answer:
A shehnai is a pipe with a natural hollow that is longer and broader than a pungi. It has seven holes on the body of the pipe.

Question 3.
Where was the shehnai played traditionally? How did Bismillah Khan change this?
Answer:
The shehnai was played traditionally in the temple at the royal courts and on the occasion of weddings. The credit must go to Bismillah Khan to take this instrument onto the classical stage.

Question 4.
When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break?
Answer:
Bismillah Khan got his big break with the opening of the All India Radio in Lucknow in 1938.

Question 5.
Where did Bismillah Khan play the shehnai on 15 August 1947? Why was the event historic?
Answer:
Bismillah Khan played the shehnai on 15 August 1947 at the Red Fort. He was the first Indian to greet the nation with his musical instrument. This event was historic because We got independence on that day. He poured his heart out in the presence of a large number of people including Pt. Jawahar Lai Nehru.

Question 6.
Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A.?
Answer:
He refused to start a shehnai school in the USA because he never wanted to leave India. He loved India so much and he did not want to settle anywhere except India. That is why whenever he was in a foreign country, he kept yearning to see Hindustan.

Question 7.
Find at least two instances in the text which tell you that Bismillah Khan loves India and Benaras.
Answer:
Bismillah Khan loves India and Banaras The sound of Music 197 from the bottom of his heart. He says that he misses the holy Ganga and India when he goes abroad. While in Mumbai, he thinks of only Benaras and the holy river. And when he is in Benaras, he remembers the unique mattha of Dumraon.

Thinking about language
(Page 26)

Question 1.
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.

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

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

3.    They advised the hearing-impaired child’s mother ………….. (What did they advise her to do?)

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

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

Answers:

1.    to win

2.    to succeed

3.    to take her to a specialist

4.    play

5.    play a new Raaga

Question 2.
From the text on Bismillah Khan, find the words and phrases that match these definitions and write them down. The number of the paragraph where you will find the words/phrases has been given for you in brackets.

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

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

3.    a part which is absolutely necessary (2) …………..

4.    to do something not done before (5) …………..

5.    without much effort (13) …………..

6.    quickly and in large quantities (9) ………….. and …………..

Answer:

1.    royal residence

2.    solitude

3.    an indispensable component

4.    improvise

5.    effortlessly

6.    thick; fast.

Question 3.
Tick the right answer.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Answers:

1.    lives again

2.    stopped

3.    welcome it

4.    interesting

5.    find it good and useful

6.    for the second time

7.    no longer upsetting

8.    Short Answer Type Questions (2 marks each)
(About 30-40 words each)

9.    Question 1:
When was Evelyn’s deafness first noticed ? When was it confirmed ? (SA-1,2014)
Answer:
Isabel had a doubt about Evelyn’s hearing ability when she did not move when her name was called to play on the piano. At the age of 11 it was confirmed when she was taken to a specialist.

10. Question 2:
When and how did Evelyn loose her power of hearing ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-014)
Answer:
Evelyn lost her power of hearing due to gradual nerve damage. At the age of 8 it was noticed and then at the age of 11 it was confirmed that Evelyn had lost her hearing ability.

11. Question 3:
Why was Evelyn nervous while going to Royal Academy of Music ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-018)
Answer:
Evelyn was nervous while going to the Royal Academy of Music as she was just 16 years old and was fresh from the Scottish farms, to add to her nervousness.

12. Question 4:
How did Evelyn’s deafness come to light ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-019)
OR
When did Evelyn’s mother notice that something was wrong with her hearing ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-041)
Answer:
At the age of 8 when her name was announced to play on piano, she did not respond. At the age of 11, her marks deteriorated. The headmistress urged her parents to take her to a specialist and her hearing impairment was discovered.

13. Question 5:
Who helped Evelyn to continue with music ? What did he do and say ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-024)
Answer:
When Evelyn wanted to pursue her career in music, everyone discouraged her. It was a Percussionist Ron Forbes who helped and encouraged her to listen to the music and feel the music through her body.

14. Question 6:
How did Evelyn hear music despite being deaf ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-030)
Answer:
Evelyn could sense music through her body. While playing on the xylophone, she could sense music through her fingertips and would learn against drums to sense. On the wooden floors, she used to remove her shoes and sense music through her feet moving of the legs.

15. Question 7:
What is Evelyn’s secret of success and what message does she give to achievers?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-040)
Answer:
Evelyn’s secret of success was strong determination and hard work. The message that she gives to the achievers is that work hard and get what you want.

16. Question 8:
How has Evelyn Glennie inspired handicapped people ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-043)
Answer:
When the handicapped people used to see Evelyn Glennie, they used to say, “If she can do it, I can”,And so, she resulted in inspiring them.

17. Question 9:
Write down Evelyn’s message for the people. (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-043)
Answer:
Evelyn’s message to the people is that—Strong determination and hard work with sincerily / honesty leads to success. Aim for your goal and try to reach your goal with full determination and concentration.

18. Long Answer Type Questions (4 marks each)
(About 80-100 words each)

19. Question 1:
How did Evelyn Glennie fight with her physical disability ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-014)
Answer:
Evelyn Glennie was a very brave girl. She learnt to open her body and mind to the sounds and vibrations. She used to feel as if music was flowing through her body. So she joined an orchestra and later the Royal Academy of Music. She did not want to be deprived of the joy of music that made her happy. She later even gave solo performances on stage in many countries and became famous.

20. Question 2:
In spite of her towering success Evelyn Glennie does not accept any hint of heroic achievement.Explain. (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-017)
Answer:
Evelyn Glennie had a hearing loss and was discouraged by most of the teachers but she did not give up. Ron Forbes guided her to listen through her body not ears. Eventually, Evelyn learnt to open her body and mind to sound and vibrations. She scored the highest marks in the history of Royal Academy of Music. She also captured many top awards and brought percussion to the front of the orchestra. She has given pleasure to millions and in spite of this towering success she does ,
not accept any hint of heroic achievement and is a very simple person.

21. Question 3:
Evelyn’s determination to overcome her disability has made her source of inspiration for deaf children. Comment. (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-029)
Answer:
When Evelyn became deaf, she was determined to lead a normal life. She was encouraged by her percussion teacher. She learned to sense music through different parts of the body and opened her mind and body to vibrations. She could feel higher drum from waist up and xylophone music through fingertips. She used to remove her shoes on the wooden floors. She was the master of a thousand instruments and most sought after as a multi – percussionist.

22. Question 4:
How is Evelyn Glennie helping other with her popularity and skill ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-034)
Answer:
Inspite of Evelyn’s deafness she joined the prestigious Royal Academy of Music and won the “Soloist of the Year” award. Evelyn used to practice for hours learning languages such as Japanese and French. She earned a lot but was kind at heart. She used to give free performances in prisons and hospitals and also proved a personal example of tireless hard work and firm determination.

23. Question 5:
How did Evelyn succeed in pursuing her interest in music ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-042)
Answer:
Evelyn decided not to give up. It was Ron Forbes who recognized her potential and supported her. He advised her not to listen through her ears but to open her body and mind to the vibrations. She mastered the art of interpreting different vibrations of sound on her body to different notes. She could feel the higher drum from the waist up and the lower one from the waist down. After the practice she could sense music in different parts of her body. And by this, Evelyn succeeded in pursuing her interest in music.

24. Value Based Question (4 marks)

25. Question 1:
“A problem is only as big as we make it.” This thought has been very beautifully brought out in the lesson. Discuss.
Answer:
Evelyn Glennie is profoundly deaf and cannot hear a word. Thus, she overcame this difficulty and learnt to listen music from her body. She not only scored highest marks in the history of the Royal Academy of Music but also became a renowned musician. She is an idol for a lot of people and a source of inspiration for. them. Her sfory tells us that no problem is so great that it cannot be overcome.

26. Part 2
Bismillah Khan Summary

27. •This chapter throws light on the origin of Shehnai and the life of all time great Shehnai Vadak – Bismillah Khan. The winner of Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award of India, his dedication to music and his love for India.
•”Pungi” a musical instrument, was banned by Emperor Aurangzeb, because of its shrill and unpleasant sound. In fact, it was regarded more as a noise maker rather than a musical instrument. It was modified and perfected by a barber who belonged to a family of professional musicians. He played it in the chamber of the king. Its sound was so appreciated by the emperor that it was made a part of Naubat. Since it was played for the first time in Shah’s chamber by a Nai, it came to be known as Shehnai.
•Traditionally, it was played in the temples and on every auspicious domestic occasions also. Its sound was regarded as auspicious. But it was treated as an incomplete musical instrument, not capable of creating independent pages. But Bismillah Khan broke this myth.
•Bismillah belongs to the Benares Gharana. He was bom in 1916 at Dumraon, in Bihar. As a 5 year old, he used to visit the Bihariji Temple and sing Bhojpuri “Chaitya” there. For his melodious singing he used to earn a big Laddu from the local Bhojpuri King. At the age of 6, he moved to Benares. There under the guidance and training of his maternal uncle, Ali Bux, he started picking up the finer nuances of shehnai. He used to spend most of his time practicing on the banks of the River Ganges. The themes of his music were deeply affected by the sounds of flowing water of the Ganga.
•He got the best performer award at All India Music Conference in Allahabad in 1930. In 2001, he won 3 awards’the Padma Bhushan, Padmashree and Padma Vibhushan. He was invited to play the shehnai from the ramparts of the Red Fort in 194?, becoming the first to greet the independent India. He won many international awards also. He became the first Indian to perform at titje Lincoln Central Hall, in USA. An auditorium in Tehran was named after him-Tahar Mosiquee Ustaad Bismillah Khan.
•Bismillah was very fond of Benares and Dumraon. He declined an offer from one of his students to settle in the USA, as he was not willing to stay away for long from Benaras and its holy river Ganga. He ventured into film world also. He gave his music in 2 movies. His composition “Dil ka khillonahai ” for movie “Goonj Uthi Shehnai”, was a chartbuster. But he could not associate himself with the artificial glamour of die film world. For him, music was his soul, his life.

28. Short Answer Type Questions (2 marks each)
(About 30-40 words each)

29. Question 1:
How did ‘pungi’ transform into a Shehnai ?(SA-1,2014-15)
Answer:
‘Pungi’ a musical instrument was banned because of its shrill and unpleasant sound. But a nai modified and perfected it and played it for the first time an Shah’s chamber, thus it came to be known as ‘Shehnai’.

30. Question 2:
Who had brought shehnai to the classical Stage ? What was he honoured with ?
(Board Term 1, Sept, 2013, K2G41GH)
Answer:
Shehnai was brought to the classical stage by Ustad Bismillah Khan. He started picking up the finger nuances of Shehnai under the guidance of his maternal uncle Ali Bux. He had been honoured with Padma Bhushan, Padmashree and Padma Vibhushan.

31. Question 3:
Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A. ?
(Board Term, Sept, 1,2013,9KK73AP)
Answer:
Bismillah Khan refused to start a Shehnai school in the U.S.A. because he could not live outside India. He was in love with Benares and Dumraon and missed it whenever he was in abroad.

32. Question 4:
Why did emperor Aurangazeb ban the playing of Pungi in the royal residence?
(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-013)
Answer:
Aurangazeb banned the playing of the Pungi in the royal residence because of its shrill unpleasant sound. It was regarded more as a noise maker than a musical instrument. –

33. Question 5:
What is the difference between a Pungi and a Shehnai ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-015)
Answer:
The difference between a Pungi and Shehnai can be noticed by the difference in their shapes and the sound produced by them. A Shehnai is longer than a Pungi. The latter has a shrill, unpleasant sound whereas, the former has a soft, melodious sound.

34. Question 6:
Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a Shehnai school in the U.S.A.?
(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-016)
Answer:
Bismillah Khan refused to start a Shehnai school in the U.S.A. because he was a true patriot and loved India a lot specially the banks of the river Ganga.

35. Question 7:
How do we know that sound of Shehnai is considered auspicious ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-017)
Answer:
We know that the sound of the Shehnai is considered auspicious because it is played in temples, and is a must for all happy occasions like marriages.

36. Question 8:
What were the recurring themes of Bismillah Khan’s music ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-020)
Answer:
The recurring themes of Bismillah Khan’s music was the relationships between the human beings and the flowing waters of the Ganga. He thought that Benares and Dumraon were the most wonderful towns of the world.

37. Question 9:
How did “Pungi” get its new name ? What was it ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-031)
Answer:
Pungi was modified and perfected by a barber which was very much appreciated by the emperor.
Since, it was played for the first time in Shah’s chamber by a Nai, it came to be known as ‘Shehnai.’

38. Question 10:
What place did Shehnai have in the past ? What place has it now ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-035)
Answer:
In the past, the Shehnai was a part of the traditional ensemble of nine instruments found at royal courts. Then, it was used in temples and weddings but now it is used also in the classical concerts.

39. Question 11:
When and how did Bismillah Khan get the break ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-036)
Answer:
Bismillah Khan, at the age of 14, accompanied his uncle to Allahabad Music Conference where Ustad Fayaz Khan patted his shoulder. He got encouraged and worked hard and got a big break from the All India Radio in 1938.

40. Question 12:
Where did Bismillah Khan play the Shehnai on 15th Aug 1947 ? Why was the event historic ?(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-037)
Answer:
Bismillah Khan was the first Indian to greet the nation with Shehnai and played ‘Raag Kafi’ from the Red Fort. The event was historic because the audience included Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who gave the famous speech – Tryst with Destiny. .

41. Question 13:
Why did Bismillah Khan regularly go to the nearby Bihariji temple in his childhood and what did he earn ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-045)
Answer:
At the age of 5, Bismillah Khan would regularly visit the Bihariji temple to sing Bhojpuri “Chaitya”, For his melodious singing he used to earn a laddu weighing 1.25 kg. from the local Bhojpuri King.

42. Long Answer Type Questions (4 marks each)
(About 80-100 words each)

43. Question 1:
“There is always a teacher to bring out the latent potential of a pupil/’ Justify with reference to the role played by Ron Forbes and Ustad Faiyaz Khan in the lives of Evelyn Glennie and Bismillah Khan. (100 words) (Board Term 1,2013,K2G41GGH)
Answer:
Teachers craft us to become better individuals both personally and professionally. Ron Forbes understood Evelyn’s passion for music. He taught Evelyn the nuances of hearing music not through her ears but through her body. He taught her to feel the vibrations in her hands and parts of legs to get the pitch. So, he crafted her to be more musical and confident.
Bismillah Khan’s teacher and mentor was his maternal uncle Ali Bux. Bismillah used to be transfixed when Ali Bux used to play Shehnai. As a child, Bismillah used to accompany his material uncle to Vishnu Temple of Benares where Ali Bux was employed to play Shehnai. Bismillah picked up the finer nuances of Shehnai and practiced for hours on the banks of river Ganga. He attained perfection only because of his uncle and mentor.

44. Question 2:
Give a brief character sketch of Ustad Bismillah Khan. (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-040)
Answer:
Ustad Bismillah Khan was a Shehnai master of great national and international fame. He was a great musician. Ali Bux, his maternal unde perfected him in music. Shehnai was brought to the classical stage by Ustad Bismillah Khan. He practiced for hours and worked very hard to attain perfection. It was his melodious music that made him the first Indian to greet tire independent India. Ustad Bismillah Khan created many new rags. He was given many awards and he even received the “Bharat Ratna”. He was a true patriot who declined many offers to settle aborad. He was a true artist but a simple man. He had great regard for Hindustani Classical Music.

45. Question 3:
How did the young Bismillah develop his interest in Shehnai ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-044)
Answer:
Bismillah was fascinated watching his uncle practice the Shehnai when he was only three. He was deeply fascinated by the music of Shehnai. Soon Bismillah started accompanying his uncle Ali Bux, to the Vishnu Temple of Benares where Bux was employed to play Shehnai. Bismillah picked up the finer nuances of Shehnai and practiced for hours on the banks of river Ganga. The themes of his music deeply affected by the sounds of flowing water of the Ganga. At the age of 14, Bismillah accompanied his uncle to Allahabad music conference where Ustad Fayaz Khan patted his shoulder which inspired and encouraged him to work harder.

46. Question 4:
How was Bismillah Khan’s music recognized internationally ? (Board Term 1,2012, ELI-050)
Answer:
Bismillah Khan was not only renowned in India but also internationally. He promoted Shehnai to international levels of participating in the world exposition, Cannes Art festival and Osaka Trade Fair. He became the first Indian to be invited to perform at the prestigious Lincoln Central Hall in the United States of America. So well known did he become internationally that an auditorium in Tehran was named after him, “Tahar Mosiquee Ustaad Bismillah Khan.”

47. Question 5:
Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a Shehnai school in the U.S.A.? ,
(Board Term 1,2012, ELI-055)
Answer:
Bismillah Khan was exceedingly fond of Benares and Dumraon. They were the most wonderful towns of the world for him. The students promised to recreate the atmosphere of Benares, but he asked if they would be able to transport River Ganga as well. Whenever, he was in a foreign country he yearned for Hindustan. In Mumbai also he thought of only Benares and the holy Ganga. Thus, he refused to start a Shehnai School in the U.S.A.

48. Value Based Question (4 marks)

49. Question 1:
Do you think Bismillah Khan had very pure and deep feelings for India ?
Answer:
Yes, Bismillah Khan had very pure and deep rooted feelings for India especially for thfe banks of River Ganga and Benares. His love was so profound that he even refused to go to the U.S.A. to start up a school He did not even enjoy in Mumbai as he found the life to be very artificial. He was deeply connected to the banks of River Ganga and Benares.