The Sound of Music Notes Chapter 2 Class 9 English

Notes For All Chapters English Beehive Class 9

This chapter is divided into two parts:

Part I: Evelyn Glennie Listens to Sound Without Hearing It
Part II: The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan

PART I – Evelyn Glennie Listens to Sound Without Hearing It

Written by: Deborah Cowley

About the Story

This part tells the inspiring story of Evelyn Glennie, a world-famous Scottish percussionist who became completely deaf by the age of eleven but still learned to “listen” to music through her body.It shows how determination, hard work, and courage can overcome any disability.

Main Characters

• Evelyn Glennie – A deaf girl with extraordinary talent in playing percussion instruments.
• Ron Forbes – A percussion teacher who discovered Evelyn’s talent and helped her learn music in a new way.
• Isabel Glennie – Evelyn’s mother, who first noticed her hearing problem.
• County Inspector (minor) – Medical expert who confirmed Evelyn’s hearing loss.

Summary of Events

1. Early Life and Struggle

• Evelyn Glennie was born in Scotland and lost her hearing gradually due to nerve damage.
• Her deafness was first noticed when she was eight years old, and confirmed at eleven.
• Doctors advised her parents to send her to a school for the deaf, but Evelyn wanted a normal life.

2. Determination and Discovery

• Evelyn loved music and was determined to learn it despite her disability.
• One day she saw a girl playing the xylophone and wanted to play it too.
• Most teachers discouraged her, but Ron Forbes, a percussionist, recognised her potential.
• He taught her to “feel” music instead of hearing it.
  • She could sense higher notes from her waist up and lower notes from her waist down.
  • She learned to use her mind and body to understand vibrations.

3. Hard Work and Success

• Evelyn practised continuously and never gave up.
• She toured with a youth orchestra and later joined the Royal Academy of Music in London at the age of seventeen.
• She achieved one of the highest marks in the history of the Academy.
• Later, she became the world’s most famous multi-percussionist, mastering over a thousand instruments.

4. How Evelyn “Hears” Music

• Evelyn feels music through different parts of her body:
  • It tingles in her skin, cheekbones, and hair.
  • When she plays, the vibrations travel through her body.
  • She removes her shoes on wooden stages to feel the vibrations through her feet.
• She can even read lip movements and facial expressions to understand people.

5. Achievements and Contributions

• Evelyn has performed worldwide and received many awards, including the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Soloist of the Year Award (1991).
• She performs for free in prisons and hospitals and gives high priority to young musicians.
• She is a source of inspiration to deaf children and others with disabilities.

PART II – The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan

About the Story

This part tells about Ustad Bismillah Khan, the great Indian shehnai player, who made the shehnai a respected classical instrument.It highlights his dedication, love for music, and devotion to his country.

Main Character

Ustad Bismillah Khan – A famous Indian musician known for popularising the shehnai in India and abroad.

Summary of Events

1. Origin of the Shehnai

• Emperor Aurangzeb banned the pungi because of its unpleasant sound.
• A barber (nai) from a family of musicians improved it by:
  • Making it longer and broader.
  • Adding seven holes to the pipe.
• The new instrument produced a melodious sound.
• It was named shehnai (from Shah + Nai).

2. Early Life of Bismillah Khan

• Born on 21 March 1916 in Dumraon, Bihar, into a family of traditional musicians.
• His grandfather Rasool Bux Khan and father Paigambar Bux were also shehnai players.
• As a child, he sang Bhojpuri “Chaita” and received a laddu weighing 1.25 kg as a reward.

 3. Musical Training

• At age three, he visited his maternal uncle Ali Bux in Benaras (Varanasi).
• Fascinated by the shehnai, he started learning from Ali Bux, who played at the Vishnu temple.
• He practised for hours at temples and on the banks of River Ganga, where nature inspired him.
• He created new raagas that were earlier considered impossible on the shehnai.

 4. Rise to Fame

• At 14, he performed at the Allahabad Music Conference, where Ustad Faiyaz Khan praised him.
• His big break came in 1938 with All India Radio, Lucknow, which made him famous.
• On 15 August 1947, he played Raag Kafi from the Red Fort, marking India’s Independence.
• He became the first Indian to greet the nation with his music.

 5. Achievements and Recognition

• Performed in India and abroad, including Afghanistan, U.S.A., Canada, and Japan.
• His music impressed kings, film directors, and audiences everywhere.
• Received national honours – Padmashri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, and Bharat Ratna (2001).
• An auditorium in Teheran was named after him.

 6. Simplicity and Love for India

• Despite global fame, Bismillah Khan remained humble and deeply connected to Benaras and Dumraon.
• He refused to settle in the U.S.A. because he missed the Ganga and the holy atmosphere of India.
• He represented India’s cultural unity, being a Muslim who played the shehnai daily at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple.

 Theme

• Dedication and Devotion: Bismillah Khan’s complete devotion to music and his country.
• Cultural Harmony: A devout Muslim playing in Hindu temples shows India’s unity in diversity.
• Simplicity and Patriotism: Despite fame, he loved his homeland deeply.

Achievements