Unit Test (Solutions): The Sound of Music

Time: 1 Hour  M.M.: 30
Instructions: Attempt all questions.
Question number 1 carries 6 marks.
Question numbers 2 to 5 carry 3 marks each.
Question numbers 6 to 7 carry 6 marks each.

Q1. Read the extract and answer the following questions. (6 Marks)

Extract (Part I - Evelyn Glennie):
"Don't listen through your ears," he would say, "try to sense it some other way." Evelyn realised she could feel the higher drum from the waist up and the lower drum from the waist down. She had learnt to open her mind and body to sounds and vibrations."

(a) What method did Ron Forbes use to train Evelyn?
Ans: Ron Forbes tuned two drums to different notes and asked Evelyn to sense vibrations instead of hearing sound. This helped her understand music through her body rather than her ears.

(b) What change did this training bring in Evelyn?
Ans: Evelyn discovered that different parts of her body could sense different sound vibrations. It allowed her to "hear" music physically and enabled her to become a percussionist despite her deafness.

(c) What does this extract suggest about learning and determination?
Ans: It shows that learning is possible through unconventional methods if one is determined. A strong will, creativity, and support can overcome even severe limitations.

Q2. How did Evelyn Glennie's disability gradually come to light, and how did it affect her early life? (3 Marks)
Ans: Evelyn's deafness was first noticed when she was eight, and confirmed by specialists when she was eleven. Her marks dropped, she struggled in class, and teachers initially discouraged her musical interests, making her early years difficult.

Q3. Describe how Evelyn Glennie experiences music through her body. (3 Marks)
Ans: Evelyn feels vibrations in different parts of her body - fingertips, cheekbones, skin, hair, and feet. She removes her shoes during performances so the vibrations travel up her legs. She "hears" music through sensation rather than sound.

Q4. Why did Bismillah Khan refuse the offer to head a shehnai school in the U.S.A.? (3 Marks)
Ans: Bismillah Khan refused because he deeply loved India, especially Benaras and the Ganga. He believed no foreign place could recreate the environment, culture, and spiritual connection he had with his homeland.

Q5. How did Bismillah Khan bring the shehnai to the classical stage? (3 Marks)
Ans: Earlier played only at weddings and temples, the shehnai entered classical music because of Bismillah Khan's talent and dedication. Through radio performances, national events, and concerts worldwide, he elevated it to a respected classical instrument.

Q6. Describe the journey of Evelyn Glennie from childhood to becoming a world-famous percussionist. (6 Marks)
Ans: Evelyn Glennie began losing her hearing at eight, and by eleven she was profoundly deaf. Despite discouragement, she was determined to pursue music. With support from Ron Forbes, she learned to sense sound through vibrations. Her hard work earned her top marks at the Royal Academy of Music. She developed mastery over hundreds of instruments and became a world-renowned percussionist known for her flawless speech and expressive performances. Evelyn's journey highlights persistence, innovation, and the courage to rise above disability.

Q7. Bismillah Khan's life reflects India's cultural richness and his deep devotion to music and his homeland. Discuss. (6 Marks)
Ans: Bismillah Khan came from a family of musicians, learned the shehnai in the temples of Benaras, and practiced on the ghats of the Ganga. His music was deeply rooted in India's spiritual and cultural traditions. He represented India on global stages, performed at historic events like the Independence Day ceremony in 1947, and earned prestigious awards including the Bharat Ratna. Despite global recognition, he refused offers from abroad because of his attachment to Benaras and Dumraon. His life shows that true art emerges from love for one's culture, sincerity, and deep emotional connection to one's roots.