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Personal Letter Exercise

Hellen Keller wrote a letter to the New York Symphony Orchestra expressing her joy at being able to experience their performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony through feeling the vibrations with her hands on a radio. Though deaf and blind, she was able to distinguish different instruments and feel the rhythm, passion, and beauty of the music. She marvelled at Beethoven's ability to create such wonderful music while also being deaf, and was grateful to the radio station for bringing this enjoyment into her home.

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433 views3 pages

Personal Letter Exercise

Hellen Keller wrote a letter to the New York Symphony Orchestra expressing her joy at being able to experience their performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony through feeling the vibrations with her hands on a radio. Though deaf and blind, she was able to distinguish different instruments and feel the rhythm, passion, and beauty of the music. She marvelled at Beethoven's ability to create such wonderful music while also being deaf, and was grateful to the radio station for bringing this enjoyment into her home.

Uploaded by

Ardhya Ga
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PERSONAL LETTER EXERCISE

TASK 1

Listen to Gillian Anderson reading a letter written by Hellen Keller and state whether these
statements are true or false based on the letter.

1. Hellen Keller was a blind and deaf woman.


2. Hellen Keller wrote the letter to one of her relatives.
3. The letter was written 97 years ago.
4. Hellen Keller liked to listen to Beethoven music since she was a child.
5. Hellen Keller listened to the music like the way other people did.
6. Hellen Keller could feel both the vibrations and the impassionate rhythm.
7. Hellen Keller could differentiate the voice of orchestra musical instruments.
8. Hellen Keller was overwhelmed by joy being able to enjoy the beautiful symphony.
9. The letter expressed Hellen’s gratitude to her family
10. Through her letter, Hellen only thanked to the WEAF Radio Station.

TASK 2

Listen again the letter of Hellen Keller read by Gillian Anderson and fill in the blank spaces with
the words you hear from the letter.

“One of Hellen Keller’s great sorrow in her life was the nature of her speaking voice and so this
night, she will have a sweet speaking voice.”

93 Seminole Avenue
Forest Hills, Long Island

February 2nd, 1924

The New York Symphony Orchestra


New York City
Dear Friends,
I have the joy of being able to tell you that though deaf and blind. I spent a glorious hour last
night, listening over the radio to Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. I do not mean to say that I
heard the music in the sense that other people heard it. And I do not know whether I can make
you understand how it was possible for me to _____________(1) pleasure from the symphony.
It was a great surprise to myself.
I had been reading from my magazine for the blind of the happiness that the radio was bringing
to the ____________ (2) everywhere. I was delighted to know that the blind had gained the
new source of enjoyment but I did not dream that I could have any part of their joy.
Last night when my family was listening to your wonderful ____________ (3) of the immortal
symphony, someone suggested that I put my hands on the _______________(4) and see if I
could get any of the vibrations. He unscrewed the cap and I’d lightly touched the
sensitive____________ (5). What was my amazement to discover that I could feel not only the
vibrations but also the ____________________ (6) rhythm, the throb and the urge of the
music, the intertwined and intermingling vibrations from different instrument enchanted me. I
could actually distinguish the __________________ (7), the role drums, deep-toned violas and
violins singing in exquisite ____________(8). How the lovely speech of the violins flowed and
plowed over the deepest tone of the other instruments.
When the human voice __________ (9) thrilling from the surge of harmony, I recognize them
instantly as voices. I felt the chorus grow more exultant more _________ (10) up curving swift
and flame-like, until my heart almost stood still. The woman voices seemed an
_______________ (11) of all the angelic voices rushing in a harmonious flood of beautiful and
inspiring sound. The great chorus throbbed against my fingers with __________ (12) pause and
flow. Then all the instruments and voices together burst forth an ocean of heavenly vibration
and died away like winds when the atom is spent, ending in a ___________ (13) shower of
sweet notes. Of course this was not hearing but I do know that the tones and harmonies
conveyed to me moods of great beauty and majesty. I also sensed or thought I did the
__________ (14) sounds of nature that sing into my hand swaying reeds and the _________
(15) of streams. I have never been so __________ (16) before by a multitude of tone vibrations
as I listened with darkness and melody shadow and sound filling all the room. I could not help
remembering that the great composer who poured forth such a flood of sweetness into the
world was deaf like myself. I ___________ (17) at the power of his quenchless spirits by which
out of his pain, he brought such joys for others and there I sat feeling with my hand the
______________ (18) Symphony which broke like a sea upon the silent shores of his soul and
mine.
Let me thank you warmly for all the ____________ (19) which your beautiful music has brought
to my household and to me. I want also to thank Station WEAF for the joy they are
____________(20) in the world. With kindest regards and best wishes.
I am Sincerely Yours,

Hellen Keller.

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