Died 1996 | ||
Sebastian D'Souza (1906–1996) was a successful Goan music arranger 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