Class 9 · ArtsNCERT 2026 Revised Syllabus
Chapter 9: Music Travels Around the World (0907AR09)
Madhurima
Shows how music travels with migration, and classifies instruments into families such as the zither, lute and flute families.
Chapter code: 0907ar09 · Book: Madhurima · Class 9 Arts
Find complete NCERT solutions for Class 9 Arts, Madhurima Chapter 9. Every question has a clear, step-by-step answer for chapter code 0907AR09.
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Section A - Music and Migration(2 questions)
1
Has someone you know migrated to another town, city, or country? Share a song that reminds them of home.
Ans.
Sample answer: My grandfather migrated from his village to the city for work; he often hums old folk songs from his village, which remind him of his childhood home and family gatherings.
2
If you had to write a song about your home and family to take with you to a different place, what would it be like? Write a few lines.
Ans.
Sample lines: `Far from home my heart still sings, of courtyard talks and evening things; though miles apart, our bond stays true, my family's love, I carry with you.'
Section B - Families of Musical Instruments(2 questions)
1
Find 4–5 instruments from around the world that belong to the zither family and compare them.
Ans.
| Instrument | Country/Region | Material | Playing Technique |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santoor | India | Walnut wood, metal strings | Struck with light wooden mallets |
| Guzheng | China | Wutong wood, silk/steel strings | Plucked with finger picks |
| Koto | Japan | Paulownia wood, silk/nylon strings | Plucked with finger picks |
| Cimbalom | Hungary | Wood, metal strings | Struck with padded beaters |
| Autoharp | Europe/USA | Wood, steel strings | Strummed, with chord bars |
2
Listen to two different stringed instruments; note their similarities, differences, and emotional effect.
Ans.
Sample observation: The sitar (plucked, India) has a bright, sustained, slightly nasal tone that suits meditative or devotional moods, while the guitar (plucked, Europe) has a warmer, rounder tone often used for rhythmic or romantic music. Both are chordophones, but differ in resonance, material and cultural association.
Exercises(10 questions)
Q1
Name two instruments that belong to the flute family and identify where they are from.
Ans.
Bansuri (India) -- a transverse bamboo flute; Shakuhachi (Japan) -- an end-blown bamboo flute.
Q2
Describe some features of Chutney music (in about 50 words).
Ans.
Chutney music emerged from Indian migrants in the Caribbean. It blends Bhojpuri folk songs and bhajans with Caribbean soca and calypso. Its lyrics mix Bhojpuri, Hindi, English and Creole, while instruments like the dholak, tassa, dhantal and keyboards give it an energetic, dance-driven sound.
Q3
Give two examples of musical instruments and the materials used to make them.
Ans.
• Sarod (India) -- wooden body with a stretched goatskin top.
• Shamisen (Japan) -- wooden body traditionally covered with cat skin.
Q4
Match the following:
Ans.
| Instrument | Region |
|---|---|
| Cuatro | Puerto Rico |
| Sarod | India |
| Shamisen | Japan |
| Oud | West Asia |
Q5
Besides tata, sushira, avanaddha and ghana, what are some other ways of classifying musical instruments?
Ans.
Instruments can also be classified by the musical genre they belong to, by the country or region they come from, or by shared family characteristics, such as the lute family, flute family, or zither family.
Q6
Describe some characteristic features of instruments belonging to the lute family, and share some examples.
Ans.
Lute-family instruments are plucked strings sharing a wide resonating body and a narrow neck; the belly may be wood or skin. Examples: oud (West Asia, wood belly), banjo (Europe, skin belly), shamisen (Japan, cat skin), sarod (India, goatskin), and cuatro (Puerto Rico, jagrumo wood).
Q7
What purpose does music serve when people migrate?
Ans.
Migrant music provides a link to home, helps migrants bond with fellow migrants, preserves cultural practices, and lets them express their feelings and hardships in a new land.
Q8
Do you think the mixing of musical genres as a result of migration is beneficial? Justify your answer.
Ans.
Yes, it is beneficial -- fusion genres such as Chutney music and UK Bhangra create vibrant new art forms, enrich the cultural landscape, and help migrant communities preserve their identity while embracing their new environment.
Q9
Imagine you have migrated to another state in India, leaving your family behind. Write a few lines of a song describing your emotions.
Ans.
Sample lines: `New city lights, unfamiliar sound, yet in my heart, home still is found; I carry your voice in every song I sing, until the day our reunion it will bring.'
Q10
Listen to the violin (bowed) and the guitar (plucked). Explain the difference in their sounds.
Ans.
The bowed violin produces a continuous, sustained sound because the moving bow keeps re-exciting the string. The plucked guitar produces a sound that begins sharply and then decays, since the string is set vibrating only once per pluck.