Anthony Gonsalves happens to be the Indian cinema’s first music arranger. In the 1930s and 1940s, music directors composed a tune around the lyrics, and musicians used to play the entire melody on their instruments. It was a crude method of recording music. Gonsalves initiated a mathematical system of creating music. It came to be known as arranging music. Here the composer composed a basic tune. The arranger then would create the interlude music (the music pieces between the paragraphs ). Staff notations were provided to the musicians. Arranging is a western concept. It was unheard of in India during those days. Gonsalves, a Goan Christian, knew the system due to Portuguese influence. Gonsalves worked with all the well-known music directors of those times.The song was first rehearsed on harmonium. Thereafter, there was rehearsal with the musicians. Gonsalves started his career with a Dholak (1951). he had a 20-year career, arranging music for almost 1000 films. Technology today has changed the job description of the arranger. He just sequences the music pieces and vocals on the audio software.

These days music pieces and vocals are recorded separately and merged later. The musicians too play the pieces in parts. There is copypasting rather than the repeating of the same piece.Singers also sing the whole song in parts. Autotune option removes the shortcomings in the singer’s voice.

Gonsalves left for the US on the invitation of Syracuse University (1965). He returned after 10 years, and retired.Gonsalves stays in Goa and is 85 in 2011.Anthony Gonsalves expired in Goa on 19th February, 2012.