Sebastian D'Souza
Encyclopedia
Sebastian D'Souza was a successful music arranger (Arrangement
) in the Bollywood
music industry, considered to be the master of fusing Indian classical music with European classical music concepts of harmony, cadence and obbligato. He is largely responsible for changing the entire harmonic structure of the Hindi film song to create an extremely listenable full body of sound behind the voice of the singer.
The concept of Counter-Melody in Hindi film songs, was introduced in Shankar-Jaikishan music by Mr. Sebastian D’Souza. This technique became popular and from 1950 onwards and Sebastian became a well-known and the most wanted Music Arranger of many music directors of Hindi Film industry.
Bollywood
Career
He started his career as a Music Arranger in 1948-49 with O. P. Nayyar. Sebastian started as Shanker-Jaikishan’s arranger from 1952 with Amiya Chakravarty’s film Daag, however Sebastian's role got noticed during the making of Raj Kapoor's Aawara (1951).
Providing violin obbligato at the background, preparing counter melodies for the bass cello, use of choir techniques in employing voices in Indian chorus singing, sparing but significant use of sonorous church organ, refining cordial harmonies suitable for Indian composers could be noted as features of Sebastian's contribution to the Hindi film music
List of few hit Albums/ Songs where Sebastian provided arrangement
Arrangement
The American Federation of Musicians defines arranging as "the art of preparing and adapting an already written composition for presentation in other than its original form. An arrangement may include reharmonization, paraphrasing, and/or development of a composition, so that it fully represents...
) in the Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
music industry, considered to be the master of fusing Indian classical music with European classical music concepts of harmony, cadence and obbligato. He is largely responsible for changing the entire harmonic structure of the Hindi film song to create an extremely listenable full body of sound behind the voice of the singer.
The concept of Counter-Melody in Hindi film songs, was introduced in Shankar-Jaikishan music by Mr. Sebastian D’Souza. This technique became popular and from 1950 onwards and Sebastian became a well-known and the most wanted Music Arranger of many music directors of Hindi Film industry.
Bollywood
Bollywood
Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
Career
He started his career as a Music Arranger in 1948-49 with O. P. Nayyar. Sebastian started as Shanker-Jaikishan’s arranger from 1952 with Amiya Chakravarty’s film Daag, however Sebastian's role got noticed during the making of Raj Kapoor's Aawara (1951).
Providing violin obbligato at the background, preparing counter melodies for the bass cello, use of choir techniques in employing voices in Indian chorus singing, sparing but significant use of sonorous church organ, refining cordial harmonies suitable for Indian composers could be noted as features of Sebastian's contribution to the Hindi film music
List of few hit Albums/ Songs where Sebastian provided arrangement
| Song | Film | Arranged For |
|---|---|---|
| Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu | Howrah Bridge | OP Nayyar |
| Sun Sun Sun Sun Zalima | Mr & Mrs 55 | OP Nayyar |
| Aap Ke Haseen Rukh | Bahare Phir bhi Aayegi | OP Nayyar |
| Banda Parwar | Phir wohi dil laya hu | OP Nayyar |
| Raat Ke Humsafar | An Evening in Paris | Shankar Jaikishan |
| Yeh Raat Bheegi Bheegi | Chori Chori | Shankar Jaikishan |
| Aaja Sanam Madhur | Chori Chori | Shankar Jaikishan |
| Tera Jaana | Anadi | Shankar Jaikishan |
| Ae Maalik Tere Bande Hum | Do Aakhen Bara haat | Vasant Desai |
| Aaja Re Pardesi | Madhumati | Salil Choudhary |
| Aajib Daastan hai Yeh | Dil Aapna Aur preet parayi | Shankar Jaikishan |
| Ae Mere Dil kahi Aur chal | Daag | Shankar Jaikishsan |
| Jeena Yahan Marna Yaha | Mera naam Joker | Shankar Jaikishan |
| Yeh Mera Prem Patra | Sangam | Shankar Jaikishan |
| Tujhe Jeevan ki Dor | Asli Naqli | Shankar Jaikishan |