Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Composed by John Lunn (Little Dorrit), the official soundtrack to the Emmy-winning Downton Abbey shows that the British know how to score a lavish costume drama just as effectively as they do how to make one. The millions of fans captivated by the ITV series -- which follows the lives of an aristocratic family and their servants in a fictional Yorkshire town's stately home during the early reign of King George V -- will be delighted by the extended versions of the pieces of music which have appeared throughout the critically acclaimed first two seasons. But even classical fans who have failed to be reeled in by the authentic, early 20th century costumes and legendary thespian talent will find it hard to resist the charms of its 20 elegant compositions, which range from the light and airy, brass-fused "Us and Them" to the brooding, ominous, piano-led "Deception." The beautifully haunting melodies and sweeping strings of the theme recurringly appear throughout the 20 compositions, from the seven-minute, epic opening track to the soaring vocal version from British music student-turned-Chinese talent show winner Mary-Jess ("Did I Make the Most of Loving You") which closes the album. However, Lunn's subtle but inventive arrangements, performed by the Chamber Orchestra of London, ensure that the soundtrack never becomes too repetitive. Indeed, among the stream of plucked pizzicato strings, gentle woodwind, and warm layers of orchestration, there are also a few surprises. "A Song and a Dance" is a rather ambient final instrumental featuring some skittering xylophones, jaunty piano hooks, and breezy flutes, while Les Miserables tenor Alfie Boe provides some suitably stirring vocals on the sparsely produced covers of Elsie Griffin's wartime ballad "Roses of Picardy" and The Bing Boys Are Here revue number "If You Were the Only Girl in the World," both of which were originally published around the drama's early-1900s setting. An enchanting piece of work, Downton Abbey is one of those soundtracks that perfectly complements its source material, but is also strong enough to stand alone on its own merit, too.
© Jon O'Brien /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
Alastair King, Conductor - Paul Golding, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Watson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Lunn, Composer, Producer - Mary-Jess Leaverland, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - The Chamber Orchestra Of London, Orchestra, MainArtist
℗ 2011 Decca, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Alastair King, Conductor - Paul Golding, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Watson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Lunn, Composer, Producer - The Chamber Orchestra Of London, Orchestra, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Carnival Films & Television Limited
Alastair King, Conductor - Paul Golding, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Watson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Lunn, Composer, Producer - The Chamber Orchestra Of London, Orchestra, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Carnival Films & Television Limited
Alastair King, Conductor - Paul Golding, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Watson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Lunn, Composer, Producer - The Chamber Orchestra Of London, Orchestra, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Carnival Films & Television Limited
Alastair King, Conductor - Paul Golding, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Watson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Lunn, Composer, Producer - The Chamber Orchestra Of London, Orchestra, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Carnival Films & Television Limited
Alastair King, Conductor - Paul Golding, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Watson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Lunn, Composer, Producer - The Chamber Orchestra Of London, Orchestra, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Carnival Films & Television Limited
Alfie Boe, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Barrett, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nat D Ayer, ComposerLyricist - Clifford Grey, ComposerLyricist - James Morgan, Producer, Mixer, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Golding, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Watson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Juliette Pochin, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2011 Decca, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Alastair King, Conductor - Paul Golding, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Watson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Lunn, Composer, Producer - The Chamber Orchestra Of London, Orchestra, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Carnival Films & Television Limited
Alastair King, Conductor - Paul Golding, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Watson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Lunn, Composer, Producer - The Chamber Orchestra Of London, Orchestra, MainArtist
℗ 2011 Carnival Films & Television Limited
Alastair King, Conductor - Paul Golding, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Watson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Lunn, Composer, Producer - The Chamber Orchestra Of London, Orchestra, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Carnival Films & Television Limited
Alastair King, Conductor - Paul Golding, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Watson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Lunn, Composer, Producer - The Chamber Orchestra Of London, Orchestra, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Carnival Films & Television Limited
Alastair King, Conductor - Paul Golding, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Watson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Lunn, Composer, Producer - The Chamber Orchestra Of London, Orchestra, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Carnival Films & Television Limited
Alastair King, Conductor - Paul Golding, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Watson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Lunn, Composer, Producer - The Chamber Orchestra Of London, Orchestra, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Carnival Films & Television Limited
Alfie Boe, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Chris Barrett, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Haydn Wood, Composer - Fred E. Weatherly, Author - James Morgan, Producer, Mixer, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Paul Golding, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Watson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Juliette Pochin, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2011 Decca, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Alastair King, Conductor - Paul Golding, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Watson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Lunn, Composer, Producer - The Chamber Orchestra Of London, Orchestra, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Carnival Films & Television Limited
Alastair King, Conductor - Paul Golding, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Watson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Lunn, Composer, Producer - The Chamber Orchestra Of London, Orchestra, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Carnival Films & Television Limited
Alastair King, Conductor - Paul Golding, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Watson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Lunn, Composer, Producer - The Chamber Orchestra Of London, Orchestra, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Carnival Films & Television Limited
Alastair King, Conductor - Paul Golding, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Watson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Lunn, Composer, Producer - The Chamber Orchestra Of London, Orchestra, MainArtist
℗ 2010 Carnival Films & Television Limited
Don Black, Author - Alastair King, Conductor - Mary-Jess, MainArtist - Paul Golding, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nick Watson, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Lunn, Composer, Producer - Mary-Jess Leaverland, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - The Chamber Orchestra Of London, Orchestra
℗ 2011 Decca, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Album review
Composed by John Lunn (Little Dorrit), the official soundtrack to the Emmy-winning Downton Abbey shows that the British know how to score a lavish costume drama just as effectively as they do how to make one. The millions of fans captivated by the ITV series -- which follows the lives of an aristocratic family and their servants in a fictional Yorkshire town's stately home during the early reign of King George V -- will be delighted by the extended versions of the pieces of music which have appeared throughout the critically acclaimed first two seasons. But even classical fans who have failed to be reeled in by the authentic, early 20th century costumes and legendary thespian talent will find it hard to resist the charms of its 20 elegant compositions, which range from the light and airy, brass-fused "Us and Them" to the brooding, ominous, piano-led "Deception." The beautifully haunting melodies and sweeping strings of the theme recurringly appear throughout the 20 compositions, from the seven-minute, epic opening track to the soaring vocal version from British music student-turned-Chinese talent show winner Mary-Jess ("Did I Make the Most of Loving You") which closes the album. However, Lunn's subtle but inventive arrangements, performed by the Chamber Orchestra of London, ensure that the soundtrack never becomes too repetitive. Indeed, among the stream of plucked pizzicato strings, gentle woodwind, and warm layers of orchestration, there are also a few surprises. "A Song and a Dance" is a rather ambient final instrumental featuring some skittering xylophones, jaunty piano hooks, and breezy flutes, while Les Miserables tenor Alfie Boe provides some suitably stirring vocals on the sparsely produced covers of Elsie Griffin's wartime ballad "Roses of Picardy" and The Bing Boys Are Here revue number "If You Were the Only Girl in the World," both of which were originally published around the drama's early-1900s setting. An enchanting piece of work, Downton Abbey is one of those soundtracks that perfectly complements its source material, but is also strong enough to stand alone on its own merit, too.
© Jon O'Brien /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 19 track(s)
- Total length: 00:54:50
- Main artist: Various Artists
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Decca (UMO)
- Genre: Soundtracks Film Soundtracks
© 2011 Decca, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited This Compilation ℗ 2011 Decca, a division of Universal Music Operations Limited
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.