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Sound of Music

The document discusses the inspiring lives of two renowned musicians: Evelyn Glennie, a deaf multi-percussionist who overcame her disability to achieve global acclaim, and Ustad Bismillah Khan, a legendary Shehnai player who popularized the instrument and represented India on international stages. Glennie's journey highlights her determination and ability to sense music through her body, while Khan's story emphasizes his deep connection to Indian culture and his significant contributions to music. Both artists left lasting legacies and serve as inspirations to many.

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1 views2 pages

Sound of Music

The document discusses the inspiring lives of two renowned musicians: Evelyn Glennie, a deaf multi-percussionist who overcame her disability to achieve global acclaim, and Ustad Bismillah Khan, a legendary Shehnai player who popularized the instrument and represented India on international stages. Glennie's journey highlights her determination and ability to sense music through her body, while Khan's story emphasizes his deep connection to Indian culture and his significant contributions to music. Both artists left lasting legacies and serve as inspirations to many.

Uploaded by

jeffreyjohnsonalex
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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SOUND OF MUSIC

PART 1
‘Evelyn Glennie Listens to Sound without Hearing It’ throws light on the life of famous
Scottish multi-percussionist Evelyn Glennie and the struggles she faced to become a
successful musician. She is a talented performer who knows how to play several
instruments perfectly. It is interesting to note that although she is completely deaf, she has
an extraordinary ability to sense music through her body rather than her ears. Evelyn was
not born deaf, but she lost her hearing ability by the time she was eleven years old. Whilst
she faced difficulty in hearing, that did not bog down her determination to pursue music.

Evelyn was keener to learn the xylophone at school when percussionist Ron Forbes
recognised her potential. He encouraged her to sense the music through her body instead
of her ears. After that, there was no looking back! Evelyn continued to scale newer heights
ever since, and when she auditioned at the Royal Academy of Music, she scored one of
the highest marks in the history of the music academy. She received several laurels,
accolades and awards for her extraordinary par excellence performances on the global
platform. In 1991, the Royal Philharmonic Society honoured her with the prestigious ‘Soloist
of the Year Award’. Ann Richlin of the Beethoven Fund for Deaf Children stated that Evelyn
is a beaming inspiration to specially-abled people. Thus, Evelyn Glennie continues to set
an example by motivating everyone around her with her determination and delights
millions of people with her outstanding performances.

PART 2
In Part 2 of The Sound of Music chapter, we learn about Ustad Bismillah Khan, the Shehnai
legend and how the musical instrument ‘Shehnai’ came into being. The ‘Shehnai’ was first
played in the Mughal Emperor’s chamber by a barber of a family of professional
musicians. He chose a pipe with holes in it and played it by closing and opening some of
these holes, thereby creating melodious sounds from the instrument. Legendary Indian
Shehnai player Ustad Bismillah Khan was the maestro who popularized this musical
instrument and gave it a global platform. He belonged to a renowned family of musicians
and created new tunes and ragas which had not been explored before. From a young
age, he was deeply inspired by the flowing waters of the river Ganga and would play on its
banks at the temple of Balaji and Mangala Maiya. Bismillah Khan had a secular
upbringing as he loved Benares and would naturally play the shehnai every morning at
the Kashi Vishwanath temple on the banks of the holy river Ganga.
In 1938, Bismillah Khan got his big break with the inauguration of All India Radio in Lucknow.
Later, when India became independent of British Rule on 15th August 1947, Ustad Bismillah
Khan was the first Indian invited to play the shehnai as he greeted the nation with his
stirring performance. Over the years, he achieved infinite success and garnered immense
praise from music lovers, both nationally and internationally, for his soulful renditions. He
was bestowed with several accolades and awards in India, such as the Padma Vibhushan,
the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri. He was also the recipient of the highest civilian
honour in India, i.e. The Bharat Ratna.

Ustad Bismillah Khan represented India on the global stage too. He was the first Indian
who was invited to perform at the distinguished Lincoln Centre Hall in the USA. He also
participated in the Cannes Art Festival, the World Exposition in Montreal and the Osaka
Trade Fair. He was so popular that an opera house in Teheran was named after him, i.e.
Tahar Mosiquee Ustaad Bismillah Khan. Despite having numerous opportunities far and
wide, the music maestro was very fond of India, particularly Benaras and his native town,
Dumraon. On 21st August 2006, Ustad Bismillah Khan breathed his last after a prolonged
illness and left a legacy of soulful music behind him.

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