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You might have read those chapters that aren’t just about facts or famous people, but quietly shout out themes like grit, culture, and what it really means to follow your passion? The Sound of Music is totally one of those.
On the surface, it’s about a deaf girl who becomes a world-class musician and a man who turned a simple shehnai into a national symbol, but underneath, it’s about breaking barriers and staying true to your art.
In this blog, we’ve made your Class 9 The Sound of Music revision super easy, from the full class 9 english syllabus and summary to key themes and ideas, no heavy textbook tone, just clean explanations that actually make sense.
Let’s be honest, trying to decode a full chapter from scattered sites, boring language, and endless textbook lines is not fun. That’s why these The Sound of Music notes are built to make your prep smoother. Think of this as your all-in-one, no-fluff guide, only clear summary, important themes, central idea, and everything explained in simple words you can actually remember.
No overcomplicated terms. No textbook confusion. Just straight-up notes that help you revise faster and smarter, whether you’ve read the chapter or not. Let’s get into it.
This chapter from the Class 9 English textbook is divided into two parts, each highlighting a real-life musician who overcame challenges to achieve greatness. Let's explore both parts with clarity and key points.
Evelyn Glennie began to lose her hearing at the age of 8 and was completely deaf by 11. However, she didn’t let this stop her love for music.
Instead of giving up, Evelyn learned to sense music through vibrations. She could feel different sounds with different parts of her body like her feet, hands, and even her hair.
She was accepted into the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she amazed everyone with her talent. Evelyn went on to perform in concerts all over the world and mastered over a thousand instruments.
Evelyn proved that physical limitations do not define a person’s ability. Her dedication, confidence, and passion for music made her an international symbol of determination.
Ustad Bismillah Khan was born in a musician’s family in Bihar. He was introduced to the shehnai by his uncle and began practicing it with devotion.
At a time when the shehnai was considered unsuitable for classical music, Bismillah Khan transformed its image. His performances brought the instrument to concert stages.
He played the shehnai on the occasion of India’s independence at the Red Fort. He also received national honors like the Bharat Ratna, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan.
Despite international fame, Bismillah Khan chose to live in India, close to the Ganga in Banaras. He refused offers to settle abroad because he was deeply connected to his roots and culture.
If we know each character of the story better, we tend to understand the concept of the chapter even more clearly. So let us get an in-depth analysis of each character of the story.
Let us go through the each line of the NCERT textbook one line by line:
The story begins at a busy London train station. A young girl named Evelyn Glennie is about to start at the Royal Academy of Music. She looks confident, but there's a twist, she’s deaf. Her hearing loss began gradually and became complete by the time she was 11.
Main Point: Evelyn’s journey starts with a challenge, entering the music world without the ability to hear.
Her mother first noticed the hearing loss when Evelyn didn’t respond to her name at age 8. Evelyn hid her problem for a while, but her school performance dropped, and the principal advised medical help. A specialist confirmed severe hearing damage due to nerve issues.
Main Point: Evelyn’s deafness was confirmed early, but it didn’t stop her from dreaming big.
Though doctors advised her not to pursue music, percussionist Ron Forbes saw potential. He encouraged her to feel the music through vibrations in her body. Evelyn discovered she could feel sound through her feet, hair, and hands. This marked the beginning of her success.
Main Point: A mentor changed her life by showing her how to feel music rather than hear it.
Evelyn got into the Royal Academy, scored top marks, and started a successful international career. She mastered over 1000 instruments and played all over the world. She plays barefoot on wooden stages to sense vibrations better.
Main Point: Hard work and passion made her a globally respected musician despite her deafness.
Evelyn is modest and uses her success to help others. She teaches music to underprivileged children and inspires disabled people. She believes that if you work hard and love what you do, nothing can stop you.
Main Point: Evelyn is not just talented, she’s also an inspiration to millions.
It begins with the history of the shehnai — a traditional Indian wind instrument. It replaced the pungi (banned by Aurangzeb) and was used in temples and weddings. Young Bismillah Khan learned it from his uncle and practiced daily by the Ganga.
Main Point: Bismillah Khan’s love for music began early, deeply connected with tradition and nature.
As a boy, he used to sing at the local temple. His shehnai practice by the river helped him develop a unique sound. His big break came when he performed at the All India Radio, and then at India’s independence ceremony at Red Fort in 1947.
Main Point: His dedication led him from village performances to national fame.
He became India’s most famous shehnai player and received several awards, including Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, and Bharat Ratna (India’s highest civilian award).
Main Point: Bismillah Khan brought the shehnai into the spotlight and was nationally honoured.
Despite fame and global travel, he remained simple and rooted. He refused offers to settle abroad because he felt that Banaras and the Ganga were part of his soul. He couldn't imagine his life or music without them.
Main Point: He chose love for his country and roots over money and luxury abroad.
Bismillah Khan became an inspiration to music students. His life showed how pure passion, devotion to art, and love for tradition can lead to greatness.
Main Point: A legend who stayed humble and loyal to his roots, he left behind a rich musical legacy.
Finally, let us go through the themes to understand the chapter even more better.
Both Evelyn and Bismillah Khan show that consistent effort and a strong will can help achieve greatness, even in the face of adversity.
Evelyn breaks the barrier of deafness through her sense of touch and vibrations, while Bismillah Khan rises from humble beginnings to become a global symbol of Indian classical music.
Their deep love for music drives both individuals to pursue their goals relentlessly, making music not just a career, but a way of life.
Despite worldwide fame, both remain humble. Bismillah Khan, in particular, refuses to leave India, valuing culture over comfort.
The lives of Evelyn and Bismillah Khan serve as a source of motivation, proving that true talent knows no boundaries whether physical, social, or cultural.
The Sound of Music is a chapter that tells the inspiring stories of two great musicians, Evelyn Glennie and Ustad Bismillah Khan.
Both stories show that with hard work, passion, and dedication, we can overcome any problem. The chapter also shows how music connects people, breaks barriers, and can be a powerful way to express feelings and ideas.
That’s the full picture of The Sound of Music, a chapter that proves real talent isn’t about what you have, but what you make of it. Evelyn Glennie didn’t let her deafness stop her, and Bismillah Khan stayed true to his roots, even with global fame at his feet. Both turned their passion into something powerful and lasting.
This chapter isn’t just something to memorize. It’s a reminder that dedication, focus, and love for your art can take you places no shortcuts ever will. Keep these stories in mind, not just for exams, but for life.
Q1. Why did Aurangzeb put a ban on pungi?
Ans. He thought it made that awful shrill noise and just couldn’t stand it - so he banned it.
Q2. What’s the real difference between a pungi and a shehnai - and why do we even care about Bismillah Khan?
Ans. A shehnai sounds way nicer than the noisy pungi - it’s got holes and is hollow. Bismillah Khan took it from weddings and temples straight into fancy stage concerts.
Q3. When did Bismillah Khan become a big deal?
Ans. His big break was in 1938 - when All India Radio started in Lucknow. One performance and boom - everybody knew him.
Q4. Why is his performance at the Red Fort on 15 Aug 1947 such a big deal?
Ans. Because he played shehnai on Independence Day from the Red Fort - first Indian to do it. Bye-bye colonial era, hello freedom.
Q5. Evelyn Glennie is deaf. So how the heck did she become a musician?
Ans. She didn’t hear with ears. She felt the music through her body - her fingers, feet, bones. That’s how she “heard” and rocked the music world.
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