“The sound of music.”

1. At what age did Evelyn enroll at the Royal Academy of Music?

Explanation:

Evelyn joined the Royal Academy of Music when she was sixteen years old.


2. When did Evelyn first show symptoms of deafness and when was it confirmed?

Explanation:

Evelyn's deafness was first noticed when she was only eight years old, and it was confirmed when she turned eleven.


3.  Who supported Evelyn to continue pursuing music, and what advice did he give her?

Explanation:

Ron Forbes, a percussionist, helped Evelyn to continue with music. He advised her to sense the music through ways other than ears and tuned two big drums to different notes. He repeated the exercise until Evelyn realized that she could feel certain notes in different parts of her body.


4.What are the various places and events where Evelyn performs?

Explanation:

Besides regular concerts, Evelyn also performs in prisons and hospitals and teaches young musicians.


5. How does Evelyn perceive music?

Explanation:

Evelyn senses music through various parts of her body. She feels the music passing up the stick into her fingertips when she plays xylophone and removes her footwear to let the vibrations pass through her bare feet and up her legs when she performs on a wooden platform.


6. What was the reason for the ban on playing the pungi instrument by Aurangzeb?

Explanation:

Aurangzeb banned the playing of the pungi due to its unpleasant and shrill sound.


7. How does the shehnai differ from the pungi instrument?

Explanation:

The shehnai differs from the pungi instrument in terms of its longer, broader, and hollow stem, along with the presence of holes in its body.


8. Where was the shehnai traditionally played, and what role did Bismillah Khan play in changing this tradition?

Explanation:

The shehnai was traditionally played as a part of the naubat, a traditional ensemble of nine instruments in royal courts and temples during marriages. Bismillah Khan played a significant role in bringing the shehnai to the classical stage.


9.  On what historic occasion did Bismillah Khan play the shehnai from the Red Fort, and why was it significant?

Explanation:

Bismillah Khan played the shehnai from the Red Fort on August 15, 1947, which marked India's independence. This performance was significant as he became the first Indian to greet the nation with his shehnai, and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was present in the audience.


10. Why did Bismillah Khan decline the opportunity to start a shehnai school in the United States?

Explanation:

Bismillah Khan refused to start a shehnai school in the United States due to his unwavering attachment to his country, the towns of Dumraon and Benaras, and the River Ganga.


11. Can you provide two examples from the text that showcase Bismillah Khan's love for India and Benaras?

Explanation:

Bismillah Khan expresses his strong affection for Hindustan when he is in a foreign country, and he constantly thinks about Benaras and the holy Ganga when he is in Mumbai.


12. At what age did Evelyn start attending the Royal Academy of Music?

Explanation:

Evelyn was just sixteen years old when she enrolled in the Royal Academy of Music.


13. When did Evelyn first start showing signs of deafness, and when was her diagnosis confirmed?

Explanation:

Evelyn's deafness was first noticed when she was eight years old, and it was officially confirmed when she turned eleven.


14. Who supported Evelyn and provided her with the guidance to continue her musical pursuits, and what advice did he offer her?

Explanation:

Ron Forbes, a percussionist, provided Evelyn with support and advised her to feel the music through other means apart from her ears. He tuned two large drums to different notes and repeated the exercise until Evelyn discovered that she could sense certain notes in various parts of her body.


15. Apart from regular concerts, where else does Evelyn perform?

Explanation:

In addition to regular concerts, Evelyn also performs in prisons, hospitals, and teaches young musicians.


16. How does Evelyn experience music?

Explanation:

Evelyn experiences music through different parts of her body. For example, she feels the music passing through the stick into her fingertips when playing the xylophone, and she removes her shoes to allow the vibrations to pass through her bare feet and up her legs when performing on a wooden platform.


17. Why did Aurangzeb ban the playing of the pungi?

Explanation:

Aurangzeb banned the playing of the pungi due to its unpleasant and harsh sound.


18. What distinguishes a shehnai from a pungi?

Explanation:

A shehnai has a longer, broader, and hollow stem compared to a pungi. It also features holes in its body.


19. What was the traditional setting for playing the shehnai, and how did Bismillah Khan change this tradition?

Explanation:

Traditionally, the shehnai was played as part of the naubat, a nine-instrument ensemble in royal courts, temples, and weddings. Bismillah Khan brought it to the classical stage.


20. When and how did Bismillah Khan receive his big break?

Explanation:

Bismillah Khan received his significant break in 1938 with the opening of All India Radio in Lucknow, where he became a frequent shehnai player on the radio.


21. Where did Bismillah Khan play the shehnai on August 15, 1947, and why was it a historic moment?

Explanation:

Bismillah Khan played the shehnai from the Red Fort on August 15, 1947, and became the first Indian musician to greet the nation with his Shehnai on the day of India's independence. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was in the audience.


22. Why did Bismillah Khan refuse to establish a shehnai school in the United States?

Explanation:

 Bismillah Khan refused to establish a shehnai school in the United States because of his unbreakable connection to his country, hometowns of Dumraon and Benaras, and River Ganga.


23. Can you provide two examples from the text that illustrate Bismillah Khan's love for India and Benaras?

Explanation:

Bismillah Khan expresses his yearning to see Hindustan while in a foreign land and thinks solely of Benaras and the holy Ganga when in Mumbai.