Downton Abbey The original music from the television series was released in 2011 on Decca Records, featuring original music composed by John Lunn and performed by The Chamber Orchestra of London. Downton Abbey The original motion picture soundtrack was released in 2019 on Decca Records, and also featured music by John Lunn, performed by The Chamber Orchestra of London.
From the first rhythmic piano chords and lush strings of The Suite, Downton Abbey lovers are immediately transported back onto the train, travelling across the fictional Yorkshire countryside and the estate (Highcleare Castle) of the aristocratic Crawley family, where we meet and get to intimately know the family and their domestic staff.The suite includes themes for many of the main characters and story lines, shifting between light and darkness.
Composer John Lunn’s music strives to reflect the beautiful scenery of the region, while explaining the relationship between characters.For instance, track four, Story of My Life is an introspective and reflective work by the strings that sets the tone as characters reflect on what has lead them to the place they are at, or a decision they must make moving forward.Another such reflective work is track six, Damaged, told with piano, a haunting English horn and strings.
Track 11, Violet, is a captivating and grounded work featuring lush strings, English horn and piano, used whenever the Dowager Countess of Grantham, Violet Crawley (played by the late Dame Maggie Smith from 2010-2015) is planning, scheming or considering how to take control of a situation or influence a decision.Finally, Lunn describes that there is “traveling…lots of traveling” which requires a more rhythmic and energetic tune, which we hear in track 12, A Drive.
Scottish composer John Lunn, who scored the music for the original television series, the first two films and the final film Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, says that although he was inspired by the music of English composers Ralph Vaughan Wiliams and Edward Elgar, his music is more reflective of the style of Philip Glass, of whom Lunn is a “big fan.”This is evident in his rhythmic and repetitive ostinato found in many of the themes.
In the early seasons Lunn used English horn, as it reflected the English countryside of that period, and even worked in folk songs such as Dashing Away With the Smoothing Iron to capture the spirit of this scene.
But as seasons continued, characters (especially the women) showed more independence, his music changed as well; moving toward “a slightly sexier” sound using soprano saxophone. Read more in this interview with John Lunn.
The CD for Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale is scheduled for release on September 26, 2025 from Decca Records. The music follows the family as they enter the 1930s. As we all await the release of the film, the playlist for this CD may shed some light on what to expect.
1. A night in Piccadilly / I’ll See You Again
2. The London Season
3. Mary, alone again
4. Home at last
5. Mr Sambrook
6. Goodbye and welcome
7. A happy return
8. The County Show
9. Ascot Races 1930
10. The Gold Cup
11. A question of property
12. Wives can have secrets
13. Private Lives
14. The Stately Homes of England
15. Dance, Little Lady
16. Prodigal daughter
17. Poor Little Rich Girl
18. Mary restored
19. The Crown is passed
20. Amen to that
21. End titles
