NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 2: The Sound of Music
Here are the answers to the questions from Chapter 2 of the Class 9 English Beehive textbook, “The Sound of Music.”
Part I: Evelyn Glennie Listens to Sound Without Hearing It
I. 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 sixteen years old when she joined the Royal Academy of Music.
2. When was her deafness first noticed? When was it confirmed?
Her deafness was first noticed at the age of eight and 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?
Ron Forbes, a percussionist, helped Evelyn continue with music. He advised her to sense music through other parts of her body instead of relying on her ears. He began by tuning two large drums to different notes.
2. Name the various places and causes for which Evelyn performs.
Evelyn performs in regular concerts, as well as in prisons and hospitals. She also gives free performances for different causes and teaches music to young students.
III. Answer the question in two or three paragraphs (100–150 words).
1. How does Evelyn hear music?
Evelyn hears music by sensing vibrations through different parts of her body. Ron Forbes taught her to feel the music instead of hearing it. She discovered that she could sense certain notes in various parts of her body. For instance, she feels the higher notes from the waist up and the lower ones from the waist down. When playing the xylophone, she feels the vibrations through her fingertips. Leaning against drums, she senses the resonances flowing into her body. On a wooden platform, she removes her shoes so that the vibrations pass through her bare feet and up her legs. Evelyn has trained herself to open her mind and body to sounds and vibrations, allowing her to experience music deeply despite her deafness.
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 2: The Sound of Music
Part II: The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan
I. Tick the right answer.
- The pungi was a ‘reeded noisemaker.’
- A barber transformed the pungi into a shehnai.
- Bismillah Khan’s paternal ancestors were professional musicians.
- Bismillah Khan learnt to play the shehnai from Ali Bux.
- Bismillah Khan’s first trip abroad was to 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.
| 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 he found its sound to be shrill and unpleasant.
2. How is a shehnai different from a pungi?
A shehnai is longer and broader than a pungi and has a softer, more melodious sound. It also has seven holes on its body, which are manipulated to produce music.
3. Where was the shehnai played traditionally? How did Bismillah Khan change this?
Traditionally, the shehnai was played in temples and at weddings. Bismillah Khan elevated its status by bringing it onto the classical stage and performing it in concerts worldwide.
4. When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break?
Bismillah Khan got his big break in 1938 when All India Radio opened in Lucknow. He became an often-heard shehnai player on radio.
5. Where did Bismillah Khan play the shehnai on 15 August 1947? Why was the event historic?
On 15 August 1947, Bismillah Khan played the shehnai from the Red Fort. It was historic because it was the day India gained independence, and his performance was broadcast nationwide.
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 live away from India, especially from 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 settle abroad despite offers, showing his love for India. He also expressed a deep connection to Benaras and the River Ganga, stating he could never leave them.