Today, in this post ‘The Sound of Music Question Answer’, we’ll cover the questions answer of both part, part 1 & part 2, of The Sound of Music, which is the second chapter of class 9th NCERT English Beehive. Let’s begin!
The Sound of Music Part 1 Question Answer
The Sound of Music Thinking about the Text (Evelyn Glennie)
I. Answer these questions in a few words or a couple of sentences each.
Q.1. How old was Evelyn when she went to the Royal Academy of Music?
Ans. Evelyn was seventeen years old when she went to the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Q.2. When was her deafness first noticed? When was it confirmed?
Ans. Her deafness was first noticed at the age of eight when her mother observed her not responding to calls. It was confirmed at the age of eleven after her hearing completely deteriorated.
II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (30–40 words).
Q.1. Who helped her to continue with music? What did he do and say?
Ans. Ron Forbes, a percussionist, helped Evelyn continue with music. He encouraged her to feel music through vibrations instead of hearing it. He told her, “Don’t listen through your ears; try to sense it some other way.” This changed her life.
Q.2. Name the various places and causes for which Evelyn performs.
Ans. Evelyn performs in concert halls all over the world and at prestigious events. She also gives free concerts in hospitals and prisons and supports charity work for deaf children, helping them learn music and live with confidence.
III. Answer the question in two or three paragraphs (100–150 words).
Q.1. How does Evelyn hear music?
Ans. Evelyn Glennie cannot hear music through her ears because she is completely deaf. Instead, she feels music through vibrations in her body. She removes her shoes on wooden floors to sense vibrations through her feet. Lower notes are felt in the lower part of her body, while higher notes are felt in the upper part.
She leans against drums and instruments to feel their resonance. Her skin, hands, face, and even her hair pick up vibrations, and her mind translates them into sound. With intense practice, Evelyn developed this ability so well that she can sense even the finest notes. This unique method allows her to play more than a thousand instruments and perform globally as a world-famous percussionist.
Read Also: The Sound of Music Summary Class 9
The Sound of Music Part 2 Question Answer
The Sound of Music Thinking about the Text (Bismillah Khan)
I. Tick the right answer
- The pungi was a ‘reeded noisemaker.’ (pungi ✔)
- A barber transformed the pungi into a shehnai. (A barber ✔)
- Bismillah Khan’s paternal ancestors were professional musicians. (professional musicians ✔)
- Bismillah Khan learnt to play the shehnai from Ali Bux. (Ali Bux ✔)
- Bismillah Khan’s first trip abroad was to Afghanistan. (Afghanistan ✔)
II. Feelings Table
| Bismillah Khan’s feelings about | Positive | Negative | Neutral |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. teaching children music | ✔ | ||
| 2. the film world | ✔ | ||
| 3. migrating to the U.S.A. | ✔ | ||
| 4. playing at temples | ✔ | ||
| 5. getting the Bharat Ratna | ✔ | ||
| 6. the banks of the Ganga | ✔ | ||
| 7. leaving Benaras and Dumraon | ✔ |
III. Short Answer Questions (30–40 words)
Q.1. Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of the pungi?
Ans. Aurangzeb banned the playing of the pungi because he considered its sound to be shrill and unpleasant. The instrument was regarded as a reeded noisemaker and was not suitable for court music.
Q.2. How is a shehnai different from a pungi?
Ans. The shehnai is longer and broader than the pungi and has a natural hollow stem with seven holes. It produces a soft, melodious sound, unlike the harsh and shrill tone of the pungi.
Q.3. Where was the shehnai played traditionally? How did Bismillah Khan change this?
Ans. Traditionally, the shehnai was played in temples and on auspicious occasions like weddings. Bismillah Khan elevated its status by bringing it onto the classical music stage and performing it at national and international platforms.
Q.4. When and how did Bismillah Khan get his big break?
Ans. Bismillah Khan got his big break in 1938 when he performed on All India Radio, Lucknow. This performance gave him recognition across India and marked the beginning of his fame.
Q.5. Where did Bismillah Khan play the shehnai on 15 August 1947? Why was the event historic?
Ans. On 15 August 1947, Bismillah Khan played Raag Kaafi on his shehnai from the Red Fort in Delhi. The event was historic because it marked India’s Independence Day celebrations.
Q.6. Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A.?
Ans. He refused because he loved India and Banaras deeply. He could not live away from the holy Ganga and the spiritual atmosphere of his homeland.
Q.7. Find at least two instances in the text which tell you that Bismillah Khan loves India and Benaras.
Ans. He refused to settle in the U.S.A., despite the offer to set up a shehnai school. He said whenever he was away from Banaras, he missed the Ganga and the temple of Balaji.
The Sound of Music Thinking about Language
I. Complete the following sentences:
- The school sports team hopes……………… (What does it hope to do?)
- We all want…………………. (What do we all want to do?)
- They advised the hearing-impaired child’s mother…………………. (What did they advise her to do?)
- The authorities permitted us to…………………… (What did the authorities permit us to do?)
- A musician decided to………………….. (What did the musician decide to do?)
Answers:
- The school sports team hopes to win the championship.
(What does it hope to do? → to win the championship) - We all want to succeed in life.
(What do we all want to do? → to succeed in life) - They advised the hearing-impaired child’s mother to take her to a specialist.
(What did they advise her to do? → to take her to a specialist) - The authorities permitted us to organize a music concert.
(What did the authorities permit us to do? → to organize a music concert) - A musician decided to give a charity performance for deaf children.
(What did the musician decide to do? → to give a charity performance for deaf children)
II. From the text on Bismillah Khan, find the words and phrases in given para:
- the home of royal people (para 1)……………….
- the state of being alone (para 5)…………………..
- a part which is absolutely necessary (para 2)………………
- to do something not done before (para 5)…………………
- without much effort (para 13)………………..
- quickly and in large quantities (para 9)………………… and……………..
Answers:
- the home of royal people (para 1) – royal residence
- the state of being alone (para 5) – solitude
- a part which is absolutely necessary (para 2) – indispensable
- to do something not done before (para 5) – invent
- without much effort (para 13) – effortlessly
- quickly and in large quantities (para 9) – thick and fast
III. Tick the right answer:
- When something is revived, it (lives again). ✔
- When a government bans something, it wants it (stopped). ✔
- When something is considered auspicious, (welcome it). ✔
- When we take to something, we find it (interesting). ✔
- When you appreciate something, you (find it good and useful). ✔
- When you replicate something, you do it (for the second time). ✔
- When we come to terms with something, it is (no longer upsetting). ✔
IV. Dictionary Work: Completed Table
| adjective | only before noun | not before noun | both before and after the verb be |
|---|---|---|---|
| indispensable | ✔ | ||
| impressed | ✔ | ||
| afraid | ✔ | ||
| outdoor | ✔ | ||
| paternal | ✔ | ||
| countless | ✔ | ||
| priceless | ✔ |
Below are the sentences using these given adjectives:
1. Indispensable
- Water is indispensable for survival.
- His guidance was indispensable to the success of the project.
2. Impressed
- I was impressed by her dedication to work.
- The teacher was impressed with the students’ performance.
3. Afraid
- She is afraid of the dark.
- I am afraid I cannot agree with you on this matter.
4. Outdoor
- They planned an outdoor picnic for Sunday.
- Outdoor activities are important for physical fitness.
5. Paternal
- He inherited the land from his paternal grandfather.
- Paternal instincts often guide fathers in raising their children.
6. Countless
- There are countless stars in the night sky.
- She received countless compliments on her performance.
7. Priceless
- The expression on his face was priceless when he saw the surprise.
- The museum has a priceless collection of ancient artifacts.
The Sound of Music Speaking Section
Below is an example introduction to an imaginary audience based on the given information in your textbook (Page 28/Beehive).
Introduction of Kishori Amonkar
I am honoured to introduce one of the greatest classical vocalists of India, Padma Bhushan Kishori Amonkar. Born in 1931, she is the daughter of the legendary artist Smt. Mogubai Kurdikar.
She initially trained under the Jaipur-Atrauli Gharana, following the style of Ustad Alladiya Khan, her mother’s teacher. Later, she developed her own unique and individual style, which made her one of the most celebrated exponents of Hindustani classical music.
Kishori Amonkar is deeply inspired by the teachings of the ancient Vedic sages, and this reflects in her music, which combines intellectual depth with spiritual devotion. She is admired for her ability to explore the subtle shades of raagas with scientific precision and emotional intensity.
She has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1985), the Padma Bhushan (1987), and the Sangeet Samradhini Award (1997), one of the highest honors in Indian classical music.
We welcome you, Kishori Amonkar ji, and we feel privileged to have you among us today.
The Sound of Music Writing Section
“If you work hard and know where you’re going, you’ll get there,” says Evelyn Glennie.
You have now read about two musicians, Evelyn Glennie and Ustad Bismillah Khan. Do you think that they both worked hard? Where did they want to ‘go’?
Answer these questions in two paragraphs, one on each of the two musicians.
Below is the answer in two well-structured paragraphs:
Evelyn Glennie
Yes, Evelyn Glennie worked extremely hard to achieve her dream of becoming a world-class percussionist despite being profoundly deaf. She practiced tirelessly, learning to feel music through vibrations instead of hearing it in the usual way. Her determination and passion helped her overcome all barriers. Evelyn wanted to ‘go’ beyond her disability and prove that physical limitations cannot stop a person from achieving greatness. Today, she is an internationally acclaimed percussionist and an inspiration to millions.
Ustad Bismillah Khan
Ustad Bismillah Khan also worked with complete dedication to master the shehnai, an instrument that was traditionally played at weddings and temples. He practiced for hours on the banks of the Ganga and in Varanasi temples, perfecting his art. His dream was to bring the shehnai to the classical stage and make it respected worldwide. He succeeded in doing so, performing in India and abroad, and earning the Bharat Ratna. His life shows how love for art and hard work can lead to excellence.