- Identify and describe the achievements of Kishori Amonkar.
- Analyze the impact of her parentage on her musical career.
- Discuss the significance of her musical style and its evolution.
- Explore the sources of inspiration for her music.
- List the awards and recognitions she has received.
- Examine the life and contributions of Evelyn Glennie as a profoundly deaf musician.
- Investigate the early musical influences in Bismillah Khan's life.
- Describe Bismillah Khan's journey to becoming a renowned shehnai player.
- Assess the cultural impact of Bismillah Khan's performances in India and abroad.
The Sound of Music
Learning Objectives
TopRevision Notes & Summary
TopNotes on Kishori Amonkar
Introduction
- Kishori Amonkar: Renowned female vocalist, born in 1931.
Parentage
- Daughter of Smt. Mogubai Kurdikar, a great artist.
School of Music
- Initially absorbed the style of Ustad Alladiya Khan.
- Developed a unique variant of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana style.
Achievements
- Widely regarded as the finest female vocalist of her generation.
- Known for her intellectual approach to raaga performance.
Inspiration
- Inspired by the teachings of ancient Vedic sages.
- Focus on the devotional character of vocal music.
Awards
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1985)
- Padma Bhushan (1987)
- Sangeet Samradhini Award (1997)
Notes on Evelyn Glennie
Background
- Evelyn Glennie: Aspiring musician, profoundly deaf since childhood.
- First day at the Royal Academy of Music in London.
Challenges
- Gradual loss of hearing noticed at age 8.
- Managed to conceal deafness from friends and teachers.
Musical Journey
- Inspired to play the xylophone after seeing a girl perform.
- Ron Forbes, a percussionist, encouraged her to sense music through vibrations.
- Achieved high marks at the Royal Academy and transitioned to solo performances.
Achievements
- Became a sought-after multi-percussionist.
- Received the Royal Philharmonic Society's Soloist of the Year Award (1991).
Philosophy
- Believes in hard work and determination: "If you work hard and know where you're going, you'll get there."
Impact
- Inspires young musicians and those with disabilities.
- Demonstrated that percussion can be emotionally moving.
Exam Tips & Common Mistakes
TopCommon Mistakes and Exam Tips
Common Pitfalls
- Misunderstanding Adjective Placement: Students often confuse where to place adjectives in sentences. Remember that some adjectives can only be used before nouns, while others can be used both before and after the verb 'be'.
- Neglecting Key Details in Introductions: When introducing a guest, failing to include significant achievements or background information can lead to a lackluster introduction.
Tips for Success
- Use a Dictionary: Always consult a dictionary to clarify the meanings and usage of adjectives, especially those that have specific placement rules.
- Practice Introductions: Write and rehearse introductions for notable figures, ensuring to highlight their key achievements and contributions to make the introduction engaging.
- Focus on Structure: When writing about musicians or artists, structure your notes clearly, focusing on parentage, achievements, and inspirations to avoid missing important details.
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Practice Test – MCQs, True/False
TopMultiple Choice Questions
A.
It marked the beginning of his international career.
B.
It was the first time the shehnai was played at an Indian independence ceremony.
C.
He composed a new national anthem for India.
D.
It was his debut performance as a solo artist.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Bismillah Khan's performance on 15 August 1947 was significant because it was the first time the shehnai was played at an Indian independence ceremony, marking a historic moment for the nation.
A.
It symbolized the integration of different cultural traditions.
B.
It marked the first time a shehnai was played in a temple.
C.
It was the first live broadcast of Indian classical music.
D.
It was a protest against the British colonial rule.
Correct Answer: A
Solution:
Bismillah Khan's performance at the Kashi Vishwanath temple symbolized the integration of different cultural traditions, showcasing how a Muslim musician could naturally play at a Hindu temple, reflecting India's rich cultural heritage.
A.
Grammy Award
B.
Royal Philharmonic Society's Soloist of the Year Award
C.
Padma Bhushan
D.
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Evelyn Glennie received the Royal Philharmonic Society's Soloist of the Year Award in 1991.
A.
By lip-reading and using visual cues
B.
By using hearing aids secretly
C.
By avoiding musical activities
D.
By pretending to understand through nodding
Correct Answer: A
Solution:
Evelyn Glennie managed to conceal her deafness by lip-reading and using visual cues, allowing her to function without revealing her condition.
A.
He used visual cues to teach her music.
B.
He tuned two large drums to different notes and asked her to feel the vibrations.
C.
He taught her to read music sheets with Braille.
D.
He used sign language to explain musical concepts.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Ron Forbes helped Evelyn Glennie by tuning two large drums to different notes and encouraging her to feel the vibrations through her body, which allowed her to perceive music in a novel way.
A.
Padma Bhushan
B.
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
C.
Sangeet Samradhini Award
D.
Bharat Ratna
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
Kishori Amonkar received the Sangeet Samradhini Award in 1997, which is considered one of the most prestigious awards in Indian Classical Music.
A.
Enhanced ability to detect predators through ground vibrations.
B.
Improved social communication through vocal mimicry.
C.
Increased ability to navigate using echolocation.
D.
Enhanced visual acuity in low-light conditions.
Correct Answer: A
Solution:
Evelyn Glennie's ability to perceive music through vibrations suggests an evolutionary advantage similar to detecting predators through ground vibrations, a trait observed in some animals.
A.
It had a shrill unpleasant sound.
B.
It was too expensive to produce.
C.
It was associated with bad luck.
D.
It was difficult to play.
Correct Answer: A
Solution:
Aurangzeb banned the pungi because it had a shrill unpleasant sound.
A.
She used advanced hearing aids.
B.
She relied on lip-reading.
C.
She worked harder than her peers.
D.
She switched to a different instrument.
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
Evelyn Glennie worked harder than her peers to overcome her challenges and excel at the Royal Academy of Music.
A.
Her ability to memorize music scores quickly.
B.
Her determination and unique ability to feel music through vibrations.
C.
Her exclusive focus on solo performances.
D.
Her use of advanced hearing aids.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Evelyn Glennie's success as a percussionist can be attributed to her determination and her unique ability to feel music through vibrations, which allowed her to perform without relying on hearing.
A.
By reading music sheets.
B.
By feeling vibrations through her body.
C.
By using hearing aids.
D.
By watching other musicians.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Evelyn Glennie could feel the vibrations of music through her body, allowing her to experience music despite her deafness.
A.
Sitar
B.
Tabla
C.
Shehnai
D.
Flute
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
Ustad Bismillah Khan is renowned for his mastery of the shehnai.
A.
He played the shehnai at the Red Fort.
B.
He performed at the Taj Mahal.
C.
He gave a concert in London.
D.
He played at a royal wedding.
Correct Answer: A
Solution:
Bismillah Khan played the shehnai at the Red Fort on 15 August 1947.
A.
She used hearing aids to amplify sound.
B.
She felt vibrations through her body, such as through her feet and fingertips.
C.
She relied solely on visual cues from conductors.
D.
She used a special electronic device to convert sound to light.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Evelyn Glennie learned to sense music through vibrations in her body, such as feeling the sound through her feet and fingertips.
A.
He was deeply attached to Benaras.
B.
He had no family in Pakistan.
C.
He disliked the political situation.
D.
He had commitments in India.
Correct Answer: A
Solution:
Bismillah Khan was deeply attached to Benaras and could not imagine leaving it.
A.
She became a professor.
B.
She captured most of the top awards.
C.
She decided to quit music.
D.
She switched to playing the piano.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
By the end of her three-year course at the Royal Academy of Music, Evelyn Glennie had captured most of the top awards.
A.
She was the first deaf student to be admitted.
B.
She scored one of the highest marks in the history of the academy.
C.
She composed a symphony for the academy.
D.
She became the head of the percussion department.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Evelyn Glennie scored one of the highest marks in the history of the Royal Academy of Music, showcasing her exceptional talent.
A.
Padma Bhushan
B.
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
C.
Bharat Ratna
D.
Padma Vibhushan
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
In 2001, Bismillah Khan was awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award.
A.
He disliked the artificiality and glamour of the film world.
B.
He was not offered any roles.
C.
He preferred to stay in Benaras.
D.
He was not interested in music.
Correct Answer: A
Solution:
Bismillah Khan did not pursue a career in film music because he disliked the artificiality and glamour of the film world.
A.
It was considered a sacred instrument.
B.
It had a shrill and unpleasant sound.
C.
It was too expensive to produce.
D.
It was associated with foreign cultures.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Emperor Aurangzeb banned the pungi because it had a shrill and unpleasant sound.
A.
It marked the first time the shehnai was played at the Red Fort.
B.
It was played during the declaration of India's independence.
C.
It was the first live broadcast of a shehnai performance.
D.
It was the opening performance for the Indian National Anthem.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Bismillah Khan's shehnai performance on 15 August 1947 was significant because it was played during the declaration of India's independence, marking a historic moment.
A.
The atmosphere of Benaras
B.
The sound of the shehnai
C.
The traditional Indian cuisine
D.
The architecture of the Taj Mahal
Correct Answer: A
Solution:
Bismillah Khan's student promised to recreate the atmosphere of Benaras in the U.S.A.
A.
By composing music for Bollywood films exclusively.
B.
By integrating Western musical styles into Indian classical music.
C.
By performing at international venues and promoting Indian classical music globally.
D.
By establishing a music school in the United States.
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
Ustad Bismillah Khan contributed to India's cultural heritage by performing at prestigious international venues, such as the Lincoln Centre Hall in the USA, and promoting Indian classical music globally.
A.
She uses hearing aids to amplify sound.
B.
She feels the vibrations of the music through her body.
C.
She reads the music notes and imagines the sound.
D.
She relies on visual cues from other musicians.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Evelyn Glennie perceives music by feeling the vibrations through her body, allowing her to experience the music more deeply than through hearing alone.
A.
It was made longer and broader with seven holes.
B.
It was made shorter and narrower.
C.
It was fitted with a reed.
D.
It was made from metal instead of wood.
Correct Answer: A
Solution:
The shehnai was created by making the pungi longer and broader with seven holes, improving its tonal quality.
A.
He did not want to leave his family in India.
B.
He was not offered a good salary.
C.
He could not recreate the atmosphere of Benaras and the Ganga.
D.
He was not interested in teaching.
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
Ustad Bismillah Khan refused to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A. because he felt that the atmosphere of Benaras and the Ganga could not be recreated there.
A.
Padma Shri
B.
Padma Bhushan
C.
Padma Vibhushan
D.
Bharat Ratna
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Kishori Amonkar was awarded the Padma Bhushan in 1987.
A.
She incorporated Western classical elements.
B.
She followed the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana strictly.
C.
She developed a unique variant of the Jaipur model.
D.
She focused solely on devotional music.
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
Kishori Amonkar developed an individual approach that was a unique variant of the Jaipur model, moving away from some traditional aspects.
A.
Padma Bhushan
B.
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
C.
Sangeet Samradhini Award
D.
Bharat Ratna
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
Kishori Amonkar received the Sangeet Samradhini Award in 1997.
A.
She used visual cues from conductors.
B.
She felt vibrations through her body.
C.
She relied on written musical notes.
D.
She used sign language interpreters.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Evelyn Glennie learned to feel music through vibrations in her body, allowing her to play instruments and perform despite her hearing impairment.
A.
Winning a local music competition.
B.
Being awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society's Soloist of the Year.
C.
Performing at the Sydney Opera House.
D.
Receiving the Padma Bhushan.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Evelyn Glennie was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society's Soloist of the Year in 1991.
A.
He did not want to leave his family behind.
B.
He was unable to obtain a visa.
C.
He felt a deep connection to the cultural and spiritual atmosphere of Benaras and the Ganga.
D.
He was offered a better opportunity in India.
Correct Answer: C
Solution:
Bismillah Khan refused to migrate to the U.S.A. because he felt a deep connection to the cultural and spiritual atmosphere of Benaras and the Ganga, which he could not replicate elsewhere.
A.
James Blades
B.
Ron Forbes
C.
Ali Bux
D.
Ustad Faiyaaz Khan
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Percussionist Ron Forbes encouraged Evelyn Glennie to pursue music by teaching her to feel vibrations.
A.
He was eager to move.
B.
He preferred to stay in Benaras.
C.
He wanted to move to the USA instead.
D.
He had no opinion on the matter.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Bismillah Khan expressed his strong preference to stay in Benaras and not move to Pakistan.
A.
He did not like the climate.
B.
He could not leave the River Ganga and Benaras.
C.
He was not offered enough money.
D.
He preferred teaching in India.
Correct Answer: B
Solution:
Bismillah Khan refused to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A. because he could not leave the River Ganga and Benaras.
A.
At the Red Fort in Delhi.
B.
In his hometown Benaras.
C.
At the United Nations.
D.
In a movie studio.
Correct Answer: A
Solution:
Bismillah Khan played the shehnai at the Red Fort in Delhi on 15 August 1947, marking India's independence.
True or False
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Bismillah Khan was indeed the first Indian musician invited to perform at the prestigious Lincoln Centre Hall.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Bismillah Khan refused to leave Benaras to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A. because he could not bear to leave his beloved city.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
In 2001, Bismillah Khan was awarded India's highest civilian award, the Bharat Ratna.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Evelyn Glennie's hearing loss was gradual due to nerve damage, not sudden or due to an accident.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Evelyn Glennie received the Royal Philharmonic Society's prestigious Soloist of the Year Award in 1991.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Bismillah Khan was indeed the first Indian invited to perform at the prestigious Lincoln Centre Hall in the USA.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
While most teachers discouraged her, percussionist Ron Forbes recognized her potential and encouraged her.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Aurangzeb banned the playing of the pungi because it had a shrill unpleasant sound.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Aurangzeb banned the pungi due to its shrill and unpleasant sound, as mentioned in the text.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Evelyn Glennie's hearing loss was gradual, and by the age of eleven, her deafness was confirmed.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Kishori Amonkar drew inspiration from the teachings of ancient Vedic sages, which influenced her approach to music.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Bismillah Khan's first trip abroad was not to the United States of America.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Evelyn Glennie was awarded the Royal Philharmonic Society's prestigious Soloist of the Year Award in 1991.
Correct Answer: False
Solution:
Bismillah Khan's first international performance was at the Lincoln Centre Hall in the United States, not Canada.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Bismillah Khan refused the offer because he was deeply attached to Benaras and could not imagine leaving it.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Evelyn Glennie learned to sense music through vibrations felt in different parts of her body, which allowed her to continue her musical career despite her deafness.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Bismillah Khan refused to start a shehnai school in the U.S.A. because he felt the atmosphere of Benaras, including the River Ganga, could not be recreated.
Correct Answer: True
Solution:
Evelyn Glennie learned to sense music through vibrations felt in different parts of her body.