The Sound Of Music

‘The sound of music’ is a story of two world renowned musicians who courageously overcame their disabilities and made a mark in the industry. They showed the world that disability does not end one’s life; it can be the starting for something grand. The first of the two stories is about Evelyn Glennie, who is a multipercussionist and an internationally acclaimed musician. And the second story is about Bismillah Khan, the all-time great Shehnai Vadak and a Bharat Ratna recipient.

The first part of the feature is based on the theme that earnest efforts and able guidance pave one’s way to success. The aspirations, endeavours and achievements of the eminent Scottish percussion musician Evelyn Glennie were made possible by her unfaltering determination. She overcame the challenge of her impaired hearing through her firm belief in herself and great confidence in her will.

The second feature is written on the theme that music transcends all barriers. The author’s focus on Bismillah Khan’s achievements in the field of classical shehnai music reveal how this great musician’s life was devoted to his passion for shehnai. It was Bismillah Khan’s secular approach to music that he sharpened his skill without any bias towards the source of his opportunities. The life of this legendary musician is an example of the rich, cultural heritage of India that respects talent, irrespective of the religion of the artist

Meanings of words and phrases

• jostle: to push, elbow, or bump against someone roughly, typically in a crowd
• prestigious: something much respected and admired
• daunting: something that makes you feel slightly frightened or worried
• aspiring: someone who is trying to become successful
• profoundly: to a great extent
• conceal: to hide
• deteriorated: became worse
• pursue: to continue or proceed along
• potential: someone’s ability to develop, achieve, or succeed
• tuning: adjusting a musical instrument to the correct or uniform pitch
• sought-after: wanted by many people and usually of high quality or rare
• hectic: very busy
• intriguing: something very interesting because of being unusual
• flawlessly: without any mistake
• lilt: a gentle and pleasant rising and falling sound in a person’s voice
• tingles: a slight prickling or stinging sensation
• resonances: sound that stays loud, clear, and deep for a long time
• workaholic: a person who compulsively works excessively hard and long hours
• banned: to officially or legally prohibit
• shrill: high-pitched and piercing
• generic: belonging to a certain general class
• revived: brought back
• auspicious: something that is a sign of future success
• indispensable: absolutely necessary
• ensemble: a group of musicians, actors, or dancers who perform together
• fascinated: attracted strong attention and interest
• apprentice: a person who is learning a trade from a skilled employer
• Haunts: a place frequented by someone
• solitude: the state or situation of being alone
• improvise: to invent or make something
• recital: a performance of a programme of music by a soloist or small group
• maestro: a distinguished conductor or performer of classical music
• souvenirs: something that is kept as a reminder of a person, place, or event
• chartbuster: a popular singer or group that makes a bestselling recording
• celluloid: films or the cinema in general.
• emphasis: stress given to a word or words when speaking to indicate particular importance
• thick and fast: quickly and in large numbers
• coveted: strongly desired by many
• exceedingly: to a great extent
• replicating : making an exact copy of something to reproduce it
• yearning: to wish very strongly
• devout: to believe strongly in a religion and obey all its rules or principles