CBSE Class 9 English Chapter 2: The Sound of Music NCERT Solutions

Evelyn was seventeen years old when she embarked on her musical journey by joining the prestigious Royal Academy of Music, located in London.

Evelyn's profound hearing impairment was first detected when she was just eight years old. The full extent and confirmation of her deafness occurred later, when she reached the age of eleven.

Percussionist Ron Forbes was instrumental in helping Evelyn continue her pursuit of music. He began by tuning two large drums to different musical notes. He then encouraged Evelyn not to listen to the sounds through her ears, but instead, to try and sense the vibrations and the music in a different way, thereby unlocking her potential to perceive sound through her body.

Evelyn maintains a busy international schedule, performing solo at regular concerts. Beyond these formal engagements, she extends her musical talents by giving free performances in prisons and hospitals, aiming to bring joy and solace to those confined or unwell. Additionally, she places significant importance on conducting classes for young, aspiring musicians, nurturing the next generation of talent.

Evelyn hears music by perceiving the notes and vibrations through various parts of her body, rather than solely through her ears. When percussionist Ron Forbes tuned drums to different notes, she discovered she could feel the higher notes from the waist up and the lower notes from the waist down. This realization marked the beginning of her learning to open her mind and body to the nuances of sound and vibrations. She honed this ability through sheer determination and hard work. For instance, when playing the xylophone, she could sense the sound traveling up the stick into her fingertips. By leaning against the drums, she felt the resonances flow into her body. To better feel vibrations, she would remove her shoes when performing on a wooden platform, allowing the vibrations to travel through her bare feet and up her legs. Evelyn herself described how music permeated every part of her being, creating a tingling sensation in her skin, her cheekbones, and even her hair.

The instrument that was described as a 'reeded noisemaker' was the pungi. This was a simple, primitive instrument known for its harsh sound.

A barber, belonging to a family of professional musicians, is credited with transforming the pungi into a more melodious and refined instrument, the shehnai.

Bismillah Khan's paternal ancestors were professional musicians. They were skilled in playing various instruments and served in the royal courts.

Bismillah Khan learned the art of playing the shehnai from his maternal uncle, Ali Bux. Ali Bux was a skilled shehnai player in the court of the King of Manipur.

Ustad Bismillah Khan's very first journey outside of India was to Afghanistan. This trip marked the beginning of his international recognition and performances.