Learning Objectives
- Learn about Evelyn Glennie's extraordinary journey as a deaf percussionist
- Understand the story of Bismillah Khan and the shehnai
- Appreciate the power of determination and passion in achieving greatness
- Identify the themes of perseverance and devotion to art
- Build vocabulary and comprehension skills
Key Concepts
Part I: Evelyn Glennie — Listens to Sound Without Hearing It
About Evelyn Glennie: A Scottish percussionist who has been profoundly deaf since age eleven. Despite her disability, she became one of the most acclaimed solo percussionists in the world.
Early Life: Evelyn was born in 1965 in Scotland. She gradually lost her hearing by age eleven. Her school discouraged her from pursuing music, but percussionist Ron Forbes noticed her potential and encouraged her.
How She Hears Music: Ron Forbes asked Evelyn to feel the music rather than hear it. She learned to sense sound vibrations through different parts of her body. She feels higher notes from the waist up and lower notes in her legs and feet. She often plays barefoot on a wooden platform to feel the vibrations through the floor.
Achievements: She auditioned for the Royal Academy of Music, London, and was accepted. She graduated with the highest honours. She now performs worldwide, has won numerous awards, and has inspired countless people. She plays over 1000 instruments.
Message: Evelyn Glennie shows that music transcends physical limitations. Determination and passion can overcome any obstacle.
Part II: The Shehnai of Bismillah Khan
About Bismillah Khan: Ustad Bismillah Khan was a legendary shehnai player from India. He was born in 1916 in Dumraon, Bihar, and brought the shehnai from wedding ceremonies to the concert stage.
The Shehnai: A reeded wind instrument. It was considered an auspicious instrument, traditionally played at weddings, in temples, and during festivals. Earlier, a similar instrument called the pungi was banned by Emperor Aurangzeb because of its shrill sound. A barber family improved it, creating the shehnai (from "shah" meaning royal and "nai" meaning barber).
Bismillah Khan's Journey: He learned shehnai from his maternal uncle Ali Bux at Varanasi. He practised for hours at the Vishwanath temple and on the banks of the Ganges. He gave his first public performance at the age of 14. He played shehnai on August 15, 1947, when India gained independence — from the Red Fort, New Delhi.
Awards and Honours: Padmashri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, and Bharat Ratna (2001). He was deeply devoted to India, Varanasi, and the Ganges.
Important Terms
- Percussionist: A musician who plays percussion instruments (drums, xylophone, etc.)
- Profoundly deaf: Almost completely unable to hear
- Shehnai: An Indian wind instrument with a reed, considered auspicious
- Pungi: A traditional wind instrument, predecessor of the shehnai
- Bharat Ratna: India's highest civilian award
- Impaired: Weakened or damaged
Quick Revision
- Part I: Evelyn Glennie — deaf since age 11, became world-class percussionist
- She feels vibrations through her body; plays barefoot on wooden stages
- Ron Forbes was her mentor who taught her to feel music
- Part II: Bismillah Khan elevated shehnai from folk/wedding instrument to classical stage
- He played at Red Fort on India's first Independence Day (1947)
- Awards: Bharat Ratna (2001); deeply devoted to Varanasi and the Ganges