Sebastian D'Souza (29 January 1906 – 9 March 1998) was an Indian music arranger in the Bollywood music industry, considered to be the master of fusing Indian 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.[3]

Sebastian D'Souza
Born(1906-01-29)29 January 1906[1]
Reis Magos, Portuguese India, Portuguese Empire (now in India)[1]
Died9 March 1998(1998-03-09) (aged 92)[2]
GenresFilm score, Jazz
Occupation(s)Violinist, Music arranger, Orchestra conductor
Instrument(s)Violin, Piano

Sebastian was very competent in creating counter-melody which became popular from 1950 onwards and Sebastian became a well-known and the most wanted Music Arranger of many music directors of Hindi Film industry.[4] Since 1951 till 1975, he was a permanent Assistant to Shankar–Jaikishan along with Datta Ram.

Bollywood career

edit

He started his career as a Music Arranger in 1948–49 with O. P. Nayyar. Sebastian's role got noticed during the making of Raj Kapoor's Aawara (1951).[5]

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 [6]

Arrangement discography

edit
Song Film Arranged For
Mera Naam Chin Chin Chu Howrah Bridge (1958) O.P.Nayyar
Sun Sun Sun Sun Zalima Mr. & Mrs. '55 (1955) O.P.Nayyar
Aap Ke Haseen Rukh Baharen Phir Bhi Aayengi (1966) O.P.Nayyar
Banda Parwar Phir Wohi Dil Laya Hoon (1963) O.P.Nayyar
Raat Ke Humsafar An Evening in Paris (1967) Shankar Jaikishan
Yeh Raat Bheegi Bheegi Chori Chori (1956) Shankar Jaikishan
Aaja Sanam Madhur Chandni Mein Hum Chori Chori (1956) Shankar Jaikishan
Tera Jaana Anari (1959) Shankar Jaikishan
Ae Maalik Tere Bande Hum Do Aankhen Barah Haath (1957) Vasant Desai
Aaja Re Pardesi Madhumati (1958) Salil Chowdhury
Ajib Daastan Hai Yeh Dil Apna Aur Preet Parai (1960) Shankar Jaikishan
Ae Mere Dil Kahi Aur Chal Daag (1952) Shankar Jaikishan
Jeena Yahan Marna Yaha Mera Naam Joker (1970) Shankar Jaikishan
Yeh Mera Prem Patra Sangam (1964) Shankar Jaikishan
Tujhe Jeevan Ki Dor Asli-Naqli (1962) Shankar Jaikishan
Tera Mera Pyaar Amar Asli-Naqli (1962) Shankar Jaikishan

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "shankarjaikishan music". shankarjaikishan.blogspot.in. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  2. ^ "Swar Aalap - Sebastian D'Souza". www.swaraalap.com. Retrieved 15 May 2017.
  3. ^ "Hindi film songs: Sebastain D'Sousa" (PDF).
  4. ^ "shankarjaikishan music". Shankarjaikishan.blogspot.com. 2006-08-17. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
  5. ^ Slobin, Mark (29 September 2008). Global Soundtracks: Worlds of Film Music. Wesleyan University Press. ISBN 9780819568823. Retrieved 15 May 2017 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ Ranade, Ashok Damodar (2006). Hindi Film Song: Music Beyond Boundaries - Google Books. ISBN 9788185002644. Retrieved 2010-11-07.
edit