The Lesson comprises two parts, two stories about two different maestros- Evelyn Glennie and Bismillah Khan. This lesson teaches readers about hard work and determination to achieve their goals.
The prose indulges the readers to go through their journeys and learn from their experiences of pursuing their dreams and never succumbing to any odds.
The first part is about the Scottish Musician, Evelyn Glennie and the second part deals with Indian legend, Bismillah Khan. Further, this chapter chooses their interesting lives so that we can find the glitz in their struggle.
You can also watch the explanation video on our channel EDUGOGUE.
Character Analysis
Evelynn Glennie
She was full of perseverance and determination to achieve her dreams in spite of her disability. She wants to fulfill using her senses and feeling the music through her body.
She did not give up against all odds and continued to achieve her dreams. She bagged all the top laurels and made her appearance globally. She became a beaming inspiration to specially-abled children so that they all can dream and achieve out of their handicaps.
Bismillah Khan
He was the legendary shehnai artist, a maestro. He belonged to a great musician family and he was the one who introduced shehnai during the Mughal period. He practiced daily for hours and worked very hard to achieve perfection. He was awarded many accolades but for her motherland and Maa Ganga, he left all the opportunities abroad, was a true patriot, and took his last breath leaving behind a legacy of beautiful and soulful music.
He was a true artist but a simple man and created many new tunes and ragas. He will always be remembered for his contribution to Hindustani Classical Music.
The Sound Of Music part1: Evelyn Glennie listens to Sound Without Hearing It Summary
Evelyn Glennie was a Scottish multi-percussionist and a talented performer who perfectly plays different instruments. Though she was completely deaf, she possesses an extraordinary skill to sense through vibrations, sense music through her body. Evelyn was not born deaf but when she was 11yrs old, she faced hurdles but still did not succumbed to her deafness.
She continued her passion to learn music and for this firstly she long to learn xylophone at school when Ron Forbes recognized her potential. He was the one who encouraged her to go further and feel the music through her body not to hear with her ears. After this turning point, she never looked back and continued her journey with passion and determination.
She received many accolades and when she performs at the Royal Academy Of Music, she scored the highest marks in the history of the music academy. After that also she received many awards and laurels for her extraordinary performances globally.
In 1991, the Royal Philharmonic Society honored her with the ‘ Soloist of the year award’ Ann Richlin of the Beethoven Fund for deaf children stated that she is an inspiration to all those who want to overcome their disability and excel in their passion. Evelynn continues to motivate and become an inspiration to specially-abled people.
The Sound of Music Part 2: The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan Summary
The second part is about the famous shehnai legend, the maestro Ustad Bismillah Khan. The chapter deals with how the musical instrument “Shehnai” came into existence. It was first played in the Mughal period by a barber’s family, who chooses a pipe with holes creating a very fine and sweet sound by closing and opening it.
The legendary musician Bismillah Khan popularized this instrument globally. He belonged to a renowned family of musicians and created new ragas and tunes. When he was young he used to practice daily on the banks of the temple of Balaji and Mangala Maiya. He loved and fell attached to the flowing waters of the river Ganga.
He got his break in 1938 when he was called in the inauguration of the All India Radio in Lucknow. After that, when India got its independence on 15th August 1947, Ustad Khan was the first Indian invited to play shehnai as the greeting echo for the nation. Over the years, he got many laurels and accolades nationally and globally for his marvelous performances. He also received the highest and prestigious awards, i.e., Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and the Padam Shri. Along with these, he was also the recipient of the highest civilian honor i.e. The Bharat Ratna.
Ustad Bismillah Khan represented our motherland globally. He was the one who performed at the very famous Lincoln Centre Hall in the USA. he also took part in the Cannes Art Festival, the World Exposition in Montreal, and the Osaka Trade Fair.
Because of his popularity in Tehran that after his marvelous performance, the Opera House in Tehran was renamed after him Tahar Mosiquee Ustaad Bismillah Khan. In spite of having so many opportunities at the global platform, the Maestro could not untie the bond with India and The river Ganga, particularly Benares and his native town Dumraon.
On 21st August 2006, the legendary shehnai player took his last breath after fighting a prolonged illness and left a legacy behind him of beautiful and soulful music.
Visit our channel to watch the video for the sound of music part 2 for a better understanding of the lesson.
Conclusion
The lesson is about two exceptional maestri in their fields, one with a disability but uses her sense of vibrations to feel the music and the other Indian legendary artist who belonged to a royal musician family but simple by heart and pave the way for Hindustani Classical Music. Through reading this lesson, the readers would be able to get an idea of the fact that music needs no language it crosses the borders and reaches the heart of millions.
