UNIT-18
MUSIC AND CREATION
A LIFE AND SOUND OF SILENCE
-Ryan J. Huxtable
Exercises
Working with words
A. Find the single words for
the following definitions. The words are given in the jumbled letters at the
end.
a. A person who hates or distrusts
mankind- misanthrope (imaseponrth)
b. A sensation of noise, such
as ringing or roaring- tinnitus
(stiniunt)
c. An examination of a body
after death to determine the cause of death -autopsy (osyaput)
d. A musical composition or
movement for five instruments or voices - quintet
(itqnent)
e. A severe life-threatening
illness caused by bacterium- meningitis (simetining)
f. An object that directs
one's attention away from something else- distractions
(nodsitsarc)
g. The action or process of becoming impaired or inferior in
quality, functioning, or condition- deterioration
(nedotietraroi)
h. Failing to perceive
something - impercipient (ntpimepcirepe)
i. A hearing disorder that
makes it hard to deal with everyday sounds- hyperacusis (sihpyraesuc)
j. A bacterial infection
usually spread by sexual contact- syphilis
(pysslihi)
B. Put the musical instruments
into different categories as below.
drum, violin,
trumpet harmonica viola
clarinet cymbal conch tabla bell
trombone cello tambourine double bass harp
|
Wind instruments |
stringed instruments |
percussion instruments |
|
trumpet, harmonica, clarinet, conch, trombone |
violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp |
drum, cymbal, tabla, bell, tambourine |
C. Use a dictionary and find
the definition of these genres of music.
Rock music
It is a form of popular
music that evolved from rock and roll and pop music during the mid and late
1960s. Harsher and often self-consciously more serious than its predecessors,
it was initially characterized by musical experimentation and drug-related or
anti-establishment lyrics
Pop Music
Commercial popular
music, in particular accessible, tuneful music of a kind popular since the
1950s and sometimes contrasted with rock, soul, or other forms of popular music
Hip Hop
Hip hop music, also
known as rap music, is a style of music which came into existence
in the United States during the mid- 1970s, and became a large part of modern
pop culture during the 1980s.
Jazz
Jazz is a music genre
that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana,
United States, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in
blues and ragtime.
Folk Music
Traditional and generally rural music that originally was passed down
through families and other small social groups
Classic Music
Classical music
generally refers to the formal musical tradition of the Western world,
considered to be distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions.
Blues
Blues is a music genre
and musical form which was originated in the Deep South of the United States
around the 1860s by African-Americans from roots in African-American work songs
and spirituals. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers,
shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads.
Heavy Metal
Heavy metal is traditionally characterized by loud distorted
guitars, emphatic rhythms, dense bass-and-drum sound, and vigorous vocals.
Gospel Music
Gospel music is a genre
of Christian music. The creation, performance, significance, and even the
definition of gospel music varies according to culture and social context
Country Music
It
is a form of popular music originating in the rural southern US. It is a
mixture of ballads and dance tunes played characteristically on fiddle, banjo,
guitar, and pedal steel guitar.
Grunge Music
Grunge is an alternative
rock genre and subculture that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American
Pacific Northwest state of Washington, particularly in Seattle and nearby
towns. Grunge fuses elements of punk rock and heavy metal, but without punk's
structure and speed,
Breakbeat
Breakbeat is a broad
type of electronic music that tends to utilize drum breaks sampled from early
recordings of funk, jazz, and R&B.
Reggae
Reggae is based on ska,
an earlier form of Jamaican popular music, and employs a heavy four-beat rhythm
driven by drums, bass guitar, electric guitar, and the “scraper,” a corrugated
stick that is rubbed by a plain stick.
Disco (Discotheque)
A style of dance music
that arose in the mid-1970s, disco (short for discotheque), is characterized
by hypnotic rhythm, repetitive
lyrics, and electronically produced sounds,
Dubstep
It is an electronic
dance music that originated in South London in the early 2000s. It is generally
characterised by sparse, syncopated rhythmic patterns with prominent sub-bass
frequencies
D. Word Stress is an extra force
given to one of the syllables of a word. Pronounce the following words with
proper stress.
'coffe ho'tel can'teen 'holiday to'morrow voca'bulary 'photograph
ge'ography 'beautiful bi'ology responsi'bility individu'ality de'mocracy
Comprehension
A. Put the following events in the life of
Beethoven in chronological order.
a. He migrated
to Vienna. (3)
b. He even made
suicidal attempts. (7)
c. Beethoven was
born into a musical family in Bonn, Germany. (1)
d. His deafness
got gradually worse: He could hear but not understand. (5)
e. He learned to
play the organ, piano, violin, and viola. (2)
f. He died of
hepatitis at the age of fifty-six. (8)
g. He live a life
in seclusion. (6)
h. At the age of
twenty-seven, he felt the deafness to high-pitched sound. (4)
in
chronological order
c. Beethoven was
born into a musical family in Bonn, Germany. (1)
e. He learned to
play the organ, piano, violin, and viola. (2)
a. He migrated
to Vienna. (3)
h. At the age of
twenty-seven, he felt the deafness to high-pitched sound. (4)
d. His deafness
got gradually worse: He could hear but not understand. (5)
g. He lived a
life in seclusion. (6)
b. He even made
suicidal attempts. (7)
f. He died of
hepatitis at the age of fifty-six. (8)
B. State whether the
following statements are True or False.
a. Beethoven became blind in a gradual process
over two decades. False
b. He became a celebrity musician in his teenage.
False
c. He did not disclose his hearing problem for a
long time. True
d. He knew that he misunderstood the speakers and
gave up his public performances. True
e. He tried to get his deafness treated until his
death. True
f. Beethoven died in his early fifties. True
g. Doctors found the cause of his deafness after
his death. False
C. Answer
the following questions.
a. What
does Helen Keller think about deafness and blindness?
Ans:-
Helen Keller thinks that blindness separates people from things and blindness
separates people from people.
b. Why
does the author compare Beethoven with Milton, Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec?
Ans:-
The author compares Beethoven with Milton, Van Gogh and Toulouse-Lautrec
because they are creative figures despite physical disabilities such as
blindness, deafness and absinthism respectively like Beethoven who is a victim
of deafness.
c. When
and how did Beethoven notice him being deaf?
Ans:-
When Beethoven turned twenty-seven years old, he experienced an indication of
nerve deafness that is his inability to hear high-pitched sounds.
d. What
psychological effects did he have when he noticed that he was being deaf?
Ans:-
After three years of gradual hearing loss, Beethoven wrote a letter to Dr.
Franz Wegener in Bonn admitting his inability to understand what her heard. He
also developed a painful sensitivity to sounds. He also confessed to Dr. Franz
that he was living a miserable life but he could not admit publicly. He also
wrote to his friend Carl Amenda about his deteriorated hearing capacity. He
also moved from the noise of Vienna to the village of Heiligenstadt to help his
hearing. The deafness, hyperacusis and tinnitus made his despair and evoked
suicidal thoughts.
e. How did
he triumph over his suicidal thoughts?
Ans:-
He triumphed over his suicidal thoughts due to humiliation caused by hearing
loss creating music passionately. He turned his anxiety into musical productivity.
He felt alleviation of his affliction while composing music expanding his
creative energies. The quotation "A man should not voluntarily quit his
life so long as he could still perform a good dead." also encouraged his
to overcome suicidal thoughts.
f. How
did he accept his deafness?
Ans:- Despite his efforts to get his
deafness treated until his death, he finally accepted his deafness realizing
that any treatment can't help him to regain his hearing loss and determined not
to seek any further treatment.
g. How was
his deafness ironically good for the world?
Ans:- It is one of the most surprising
thing that a deaf person became of the greatest musical composer. It is ironic
that how a deaf person can be a music composer. But Beethoven is marvelous. He became
a great classical music composer despite his deafness. His deafness heightened
his abilities as a composer. His deafness served a definite aid that held him
back from his worldly desires and kept his eye on his mission.
h. When
did Beethoven give up his musical performances forever?
Ans:- Until in his mid forties, he had
been giving his musical performances. But in his mid forties, he got
embarrassing social remarks as a result he gave up piano playing and conducting
in public.
i. What
did Stephen von Breuning comment on Beethoven's reactions?
Ans:- Stephen von Breuning commented that
Beethoven had become withdrawn and often mistrusted his best friends.
j. How
did Beethoven express the conflict in his mind?
Ans:- Due to multiple problems related to
hearing, such as deafness, hyperacusis and tinnitus, Beethoven reduced his
public performances, avoided social functions, expressed his despair to his
friends, tried to hide his problem publicly and developed suicidal thoughts
several times. He isolated himself from the public and totally concentrated on
composing music.
Critical Thinking
a. Suicidal thoughts came in Beethoven's mind
several times but he did not commit suicide and kept on composing music. Write
a monologue in about 150 words from Beethoven's perspectives describing his
suicidal thoughts and his will to live.
Ans:-
When I was just twenty-seven years I lost my ability to hear high-pitch sounds.
I had been hiding this secret for three years. Thank God, they did not know I
was deaf. I was unable to understand the actors though I heard them? I am still
having this problem. What is happening to me? Are my sensory cells damaged? My
hearing capacity is deteriorated. Oh God, please give me back my hearing power!
I have been living away from people. I can't hide because people suspect me
that I am deaf. It started in my left ear, but I feel the same in the right ear
now. My ears whistle and buzz continuously. I came here in Heiligenstadt hoping
to help this hearing. But my condition is still same. What can I do now? I don’t
think that I will regain my hearing capacity. Oh my God, how can I compose music
and perform in the public? I can't compose music in deafness. I am ruined. I
can't compose great music. I am useless. It is good to say goodbye to this
world. I don't see any hope in my life. I love music very much. Is it good to
murder myself? Committing suicide means not only killing myself it is also
murder of my passion to music. I can still compose music. My deafness can't
prevent me composing music. Instead to give up my life, I will give up my piano
playing and public performance. I dedicate my life to compose music. Whatever people
say I dedicate my life to music. I can't still perform good deed. I must live
for the sake of art.
b. Was it divine inspiration or rigorous practice
that made Beethoven one of the world's greatest musicians? Give the reasons.
Ans:- Ludwig van Beethoven is one of the
world's greatest musicians. He is a German composer and pianist but he lost his
hearing when he was twenty-seven. Despite his hearing disability, he composed
nine symphonies. In spite of his deafness, he continued composing great music
until he died because of his passion to music. Instead to account divine
inspiration, I prefer to say that his rigorous practice made the greatest musicians.
His grand father was a great musician and his father was also a musician. His
grand father inspired him to be a great musician like Mozart. His father also
taught him music. He started to pay the organ, piano, violin and viola since
his childhood. His father was alcoholic and brutal who forced him playing
musical instrument from early age. It is said that he started learning music since
he was three years old. At the age of seven he gave his first public concert. Mozart
and Joseph Haydn taught him music. At his teen age he became a composer and a
performer. Even after losing his hearing ability, he continued composing music.
The hard work and dedication towards music made him great musician.
Writing
Who
is your favorite Nepali musician? Write his/her biography in about 300 words.
Narayan Gopal is the most popular and loved singer,
composer and lyrics writer Nepal has ever seen. He is regarded as “Swor Samrat”
meaning “King of the vocal” in Nepal.
He was married to Pamela Lama in Falgun 2027 at the age of thirty.
Narayan Gopal was also known as Blues King or Tragedy king, as his songs were
mostly seen to be at the sadden part of life and love. He sang almost all types
of song. He sang from Nepali folk songs to Nepali Modern songs. His manly
famous was Nepali Modern Songs.
He started singing with first generation of Nepali music, and sang
his whole life. His voice became more prominent and powerful as he got older.
He also sang for Nepali movies and Dramas. Narayan Gopal sang in popular
Dramas; Muna Madan (written by Laxmi Prasad Devkota) and Malati Mangale
(Written by Madav Prasad Ghimire).
Narayan Gopal had five brothers and six sisters. He completed his
School Leaving Certificate (S.L.C) exams in 2016 B.S. and obtained Bachelor of
Art degree in Humanities from Tri Chandra College. He once went to Maharaja
Sayajirao University of Baroda to study classical Indian music, but returned
before completion.
He was Manager at Rastriya Naach Ghar (National Dance Theater) and
also worked as the editor of a musical journal Bageena for its initial three
issues about BS 2028. He became the managing director of Sanskritik Sangsthan
(Cultural Center) from BS 2036-05-10 to BS 2040-10-04. He was also adviser to
the Ministry of Communication from 2046-04-16 onward. He served as associate
professor in Lalit Kala Campus too.
Narayan Gopal was considered to be a person with knowledge of
history and culture. He loved photography and he always loved to watch
football. He was a good chess player too. People near to him, always
appreciated his cooking. Other than singing, Narayan Gopal engage himelf
in organizing various events. He was the first editor of बागीना (Bageena) magazine.
Narayan Gopal's performed first time in
public during the 40th anniversary of Tri Chandra College. He played tabala at
the program.
Manik Ratna Sthapit and Prem Dhoj Pradhan were his friends who
initially recognized his unlimited musical talents. They used to get together
and do vocal practices using Hindi songs. Narayan Gopal, however, would joke
around by changing the words of the songs that they used to sing. Prem
Dhoj and Manik Ratna recounts that Narayan Gopal used to change the Hindi words
into Nepali, thus damaging the melody of the songs to comical effect.
By that time Prem Dhoj and Manik Sthapit had started to sing their
compositions. Narayan Gopal also composed about six original songs written by
the contemporary poet Ratna Shumsher Thapa. Four of the songs were solo and two
were for duet. All these songs were
later recorded in Calcutta, India, during his studies. These songs started
becoming very popular in Nepal and India in short time, which made Narayan
Gopal recognized as a singer.
Nepal was at the first dawn of Democracy at that time. Because of
such freedom Narayan Gopal was benefited in his early career to sing freely all
songs related to love, life, hope, and patriotism. At the time when Nepali
East-West highway was under construction, he recorded ‘Jaaja Jaja Chamka Naujawanho' and he recorded another song near that
time "aama timilai'. Those patriotic songs established him between the
young Nepali.
He improvised and became very selective. He always looked for
better combination of words, music, and emotion, which in turn he gave his best
composition. His contemporaries were such as Tara Devi, Pushpa, Prem Dhoj
Pradhan, Nepali, Bacchu Kailash, , Amber Gurung, , Nati Kaji, Shiva
Sankar. Gopal Yonjan was Narayan Gopal’s best buddy (mitju).
Partnership of Gopal Yonjan gave Narayan Gopal's music a different
dimension. Narayan Gopal became the singer of the hearts of the Nepali
people.
European and western music were in the fly at the time in late
sixties. To meet these challenges, Narayan Gopal in partnership with Gopal
Yonjan created songs which were able to touch heart of people. 'Birsera feri nahera malai', 'chinari hamro dherai purano', 'timro jasto mutu mero
pani', lau suna ma bhanxu mero ramkahani' are the most famous song of the time.
These songs boost musical career of Narayan Gopal and Gopal Yonjan together.
Later in his career, he collaborated with established composers
Shiva Sankar, Amber Gurung, Nati Kaji, and Dharmaraj Thapa.
In seventies he moved to Pokhara with his wife Pamela and later to
Hetauda, where he met great authors like Bhupi Sherchan and Bhim Birag. Narayan
Gopal composed and gave his vocal to Bhupi Sherchan's 'Saanai Hurima Baisako Sapana' and 'Aljhexa kyare Pachhaeuri Timro'. He sang also Bhim Birag's 'Timle Pani Ma Jastai Maaya Diyera Hera'.
After a short stay in Hetauda, Narayan Gopal came back to
Kathmandu worked in Rastriya Naach Ghar (National Dance Theater). He had
entered Naach Ghar as a instrumentalist and later promoted to Director. While
he was in Naach Ghar, his relation to most of his friends and counterparts
ruined. No one knows the actual reasons behind it. Some blamed him for
arrogance he developed due to his name, fame and success.
The time came when Swor Samrat had to face new generation
musicians. He started working with Dibya Khaling and he started singing
Khalings compositions. He then entered to another phase of his singing career
with new generation.
He was again able to revive his career with songs like Saadhai Nai Ma Haase Timlai Ruwai, Mayako Aadharma Samjhauta Nai Hunxa, Bipana Nabhai. He again became popular among people of Nepal.
He started working with rising lyrics writers Kshyetra Pratap
Adhikari, Kali Prasad Rijal, Norden Rumba, Dinesh Adhikari, and Bishwambhar
Pyaukurel. His old relations were totally ruined. He started working with new
generation composers Sambhujit Baskota, Bhupendra Rayamajhi, and Shubha
Bahadur.
Narayan Gopal contributed twenty-eight years of his life to Nepali
music and its development. He sang in eighteen movies and recorded about
hundred and fifty-seven songs.
The greatest musical performance of Narayan Gopal was Swornim
Sandhya performed at Royal Nepal Academy Hall in 1990. It was his last and
most popular musical concert. He was titled Swor Samrat just after the concert.
The album was released by Music Nepal on June 1990 few months before he
died.
Narayan Gopal earned many awards in his music career including
Radio Nepal's Sarbottam Awards, Ratna Recording Award, Lions Awards and
Jagadamba Award.
Narayan Gopal had diabetes. He left his physical body in December
5, 1990 (19 Mangsir, 2049 B.S.) in Bir Hospital, at 9 p.m. in Kathmandu.
Narayan Gopal was fifty-one when he died.
Swor Samrat Narayan Gopal added new horizon to Nepali Music. He
will always be remembered for his musical contribution to Nepali Music
world.
Source: http://www.weallnepali.com/sahitya-sumana/narayan-gopal-gurubacharya
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