Lecture Notes: The Sound of Music

Introduction

• Lecture on "The Sound of Music"
• Discussing two eminent personalities in the field of music: Evelyn Glennie and Ustad Bismillah Khan
• Focus on their challenges and achievements

Evelyn Glennie

Background

• 17-year-old deaf girl from Scotland
• Joined the Royal Academy of Music, London
• Gradually lost her hearing at a young age
  • First noticed by her mother at age 8
  • Severe hearing loss by age 11

Overcoming Disability

• Faced significant challenges learning music despite being deaf
• Inspired by another girl playing a xylophone
• Teachers were skeptical, but Ron Forbes, a percussionist, recognized her potential
  • Suggested listening to music through touch and vibrations
  • Felt vibrations in different parts of her body
  • Opened her mind and body to sounds and vibrations

Achievements

• Joined Youth Orchestra of UK
• Decided to make music her life at age 16
• Excelled at the Royal Academy, receiving top marks
• Became a world-renowned multi-percussionist
• Languages: Scottish, French, Japanese
• Awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society’s prestigious Soloist of the Year Award in 1991

Contribution

• Performs and teaches young musicians
• Gives free concerts in prisons and hospitals
• Inspiration to handicapped individuals

Ustad Bismillah Khan

Background

• Renowned Shehnai player from Bihar
• Came from a family of musicians
• Practiced hard by the banks of the Ganga in Banaras

Career Highlights

• Played on significant occasions, including India's first Independence Day
• Honored with Bharat Ratna in 2001

Historical Significance of Shehnai

• Developed from the banned instrument Pungi by a barber
• First played in Shah's chambers, hence named Shehnai
• Gradually considered auspicious, played in temples and weddings

Personal Journey

• Began playing at age 5, inspired by his maternal uncle, Ali Bux, in Banaras
• Accompanied Ali Bux to perform in temples and concerts
• Perfected the art of Shehnai playing
• Received encouragement from Ustad Faiyaz Khan

International Recognition

• Became popular on All India Radio in 1938
• Invited to perform at prestigious venues globally, with his first trip abroad to Afghanistan
• Honored by King Zahir Shah of Afghanistan

Contribution to Music

• Composed music for films like "Goonj Uthi Shehnai"
• Rejected the glamour of the film industry
• Performed internationally, including at the Lincoln Center Hall, USA

Legacy

• Continued playing Shehnai, filling audiences with joy
• Promoted Indian music culture globally
• Significant awards: Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, Bharat Ratna
• Encouraged teaching music to children in India
• Refused offers to settle abroad, especially missing the Ganga of Banaras
• Represents India's rich cultural heritage and secular traditions

Vocabulary Building and Character Sketches

Evelyn Glennie

• Determined and hardworking
• Overcame obstacles with strong willpower
• Passion for music despite disability
• Major supporter: Ron Forbes

Ustad Bismillah Khan

• Great Shehnai player; contributed significantly
• Practiced extensively by the Ganga
• Loved his homeland, especially Banaras
• Significant achievements and awards
• Advocate for promoting Indian music heritage

Ali Bux

• Maternal uncle of Bismillah Khan
• Shahnai player at Vishnu Temple in Banaras
• Important influence on Bismillah Khan’s early training