Summary
Part 1: Evelyn Glennie Listens to Sound Without Hearing It
This section highlights the life of Evelyn Glennie, a famous Scottish percussionist who overcame her deafness to become a world-renowned musician. Evelyn is an exceptional performer who plays several instruments skillfully. Although she is completely deaf, she has the remarkable ability to sense music through her body rather than her ears. Evelyn was not born deaf but lost her hearing by the age of eleven. Despite this challenge, her determination to pursue music never wavered.
At school, Evelyn showed a keen interest in learning the xylophone. Percussionist Ron Forbes recognized her talent and encouraged her to feel music through vibrations in her body. This marked the turning point in her journey. Evelyn worked hard and achieved great success, eventually scoring the highest marks during her audition at the Royal Academy of Music. She received numerous awards and honors, including the prestigious Soloist of the Year Award from the Royal Philharmonic Society in 1991. Ann Richlin from the Beethoven Fund for Deaf Children praised her as an inspiration for specially-abled individuals. Evelyn’s story inspires people worldwide as she continues to amaze audiences with her extraordinary performances.
Part 2: The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan
This section focuses on Ustad Bismillah Khan, the legendary shehnai player, and the history of the instrument itself. The shehnai originated when a barber from a family of musicians crafted a pipe with holes and played melodious tunes in the Mughal Emperor’s court. Ustad Bismillah Khan, born into a family of musicians, popularized the shehnai and brought it international fame. From a young age, he was inspired by the holy river Ganga and often played at the temples of Balaji and Mangala Maiya. His upbringing in the culturally rich city of Benares shaped his music deeply.
In 1938, Bismillah Khan got his first big break when he performed on All India Radio in Lucknow. Later, on 15th August 1947, when India gained independence, he became the first Indian to greet the nation with a soul-stirring shehnai performance. Over the years, he received numerous accolades, including the Bharat Ratna, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, and Padma Shri.
Bismillah Khan also represented India on the global stage. He was the first Indian to perform at the Lincoln Centre Hall in the USA and participated in international festivals like the Cannes Art Festival and the World Exposition in Montreal. His popularity extended so far that an opera house in Teheran was named after him. Despite global recognition and countless opportunities, Bismillah Khan remained deeply connected to his homeland, particularly Benares and his hometown, Dumraon. He passed away on 21st August 2006, leaving behind a legacy of timeless music.
Conclusion of The Sound of Music
The chapter emphasizes the power of music to unite people across all boundaries. It is a universal language loved by everyone, showing how passion and dedication can overcome any challenge.
Summary
The poem Wind is about the power of the wind and how it causes destruction. The poet also suggests how we can turn the wind into a friend. In this poem, the wind is personified, and the poet speaks to it directly. He begins by asking the wind to come gently, but then he describes its destructive nature. The wind is so strong that it breaks window shutters, scatters papers, and knocks books off the shelves. The poet points out the chaos caused by the wind, tearing book pages, bringing rain, and disorganizing everything.
The poet explains that the wind mocks weak people and fragile things. When it blows strongly, weak houses collapse, wooden beams break, and people are unable to stand properly. He compares the wind’s initial softness to a child, but later, it becomes violent and destructive, like an energetic youth. The wind’s force frightens people and causes their hearts to beat faster.
The poet addresses the wind as a god and compares people to wheat. Just as wheat is winnowed to separate grain from chaff, the Wind God separates strong people from the weak. The wind destroys everything fragile and spares only what is strong.
The poet advises that instead of trying to control the wind, we should prepare for it. We should build strong houses, close doors tightly, and make our bodies and hearts strong to face the wind’s challenges. He suggests that if we do this, the wind will become our friend. Symbolically, the wind represents the struggles and challenges of life. The poet urges us to strengthen ourselves so we can overcome difficulties.
The poet emphasizes that the wind only affects weak things, while strong ones remain unshaken and grow even stronger. He suggests we should embrace the friendship of the wind and praise it daily, like we would praise a god. The message of the poem is clear: instead of fearing problems, we should face them with courage. Challenges in life help us grow stronger, mentally and physically, and teach us how to overcome hardships.