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Downton Abbey

 

DOWNTON ABBEY
(Decca)

 

 

Best New Television Score
24th Annual Sammy Film Music Awards

 

Music composed by John Lunn, except tracks 7 and 14.
Executive Producers: John Lunn and Gareth Neame.

Produced by James Morgan and Juliette Pochin.
Performed by The Chamber Orchestra Of London, conducted by Alastair King, except tracks 7 and 14.

Recorded and mixed by Paul Golding.
Decca B0016260-02, 2011

1. Downton Abbey - The Suite
2. Love And The Hunter
3. Emancipation
4. Story Of My Life
5. Fashion
6. Damaged
7. If You Were The Only Girl In The World (vocal by Alfie Boe)
8. Preparation
9. Such Good Luck
10. Us And Them
11. Violet
12. A Drive
13. An Ideal Marriage
14. Roses Of Picardy (vocal by Alfied Boe)
15. Telegram
16. Deception
17. Titanic
18. A Song And A Dance
19. Did I Make The Most Of Loving You? (vocal by Mary-Jess)

 

Downton Abbey - The Essential Collection

 

DOWNTON ABBEY:
The Essential Collection
(Decca)

 

Music composed by John Lunn, except tracks 19 and 23.
Executive Producers: John Lunn and Gareth Neame.

Produced by Johnn Lunn.
Performed by The Chamber Orchestra Of London, conducted by Alastair King, except tracks 19 and 23.
Tracks 6,9,11,12,13,16,18 - John Lunn, piano.
Tracks 5 and 10 - music by John Lunn, lyrics by Don Black.
Tracks 19 and 23 produced by Steven and Stijn Kolacny.

Recorded and mixed by Paul Golding and Nick Watson.
Decca B0017743-02, 2012

1. Downton Abbey - The Suite
2. Love And The Hunter
3. Emancipation
4. Story Of My Life
5. *Did I Make The Most Of Loving You (vocal by Mary-Jess Leverland)
6. Nothing To Forgive
7. Fashion
8. Damaged
9. New World
10. *I'll Count The Days (vocal by Rebecca Ferguson)
11. The Fallen
12. A Glimpse Of Happiness
13. Elopement
14. Preparation
15. Us And Them
16. Patrick
17. Deception
18. A Dangerous Path
19. +With or Without You (Scala & Kolacny Brothers)
20. Violet
21. An Ideal Marriage
22. A Song And A Dance
23. +Every Breath You Take (Scala & Kolacny Brothers)

+ = featured on ITV series trailers
* = songs inspired by story of Lady Mary and Matthew

 

Is there any need to review these two CDs, released in 2011 and 2012? The answer is yes. Because it is important to highlight the music by John Lunn composed for this beloved series, now in its 5th season.

First, if you look at the above track listings, you will see that there are many of the same track titles. In the first CD release, there are 16 instrumental tracks, while in the second release there are 19 instrumentals. There are 2 original vocals in the first CD and the same in the second one.

As far as the songs, I prefer the first CD which has songs of the period covered in the DOWNTON ABBEY series. The new songs are nothing exceptional and not featured in the TV series. On track 5 of the second CD there is a pleasing vocal by Mary-Jess, with music from the main theme of the TV series. I didn't care much for the vocal by Rebecca Ferguson on "I'll Count The Days" (track 10) which seemed out of place in such a compilation of more subtle themes. Both were supposedly "inspired" by the courtship of Lady Mary and Matthew. Or was it "inspired" by the record company who expects listeners to prefer contemporary vocals on their CDs? Both songs are nothing special. The two choral tracks (Nos. 19 and 23) are more appealing to my ears, with the last track on that CD featuring a nice rendition of "Every Breath You Take" made by pop star, Sting.

So, is the second CD really "the essential collection" and better to have than the first one? Not necessarily.

Both have the wonderful Suite (7:08), which everyone who watches the TV series will recognize. Other tracks I especially enjoyed are the somber scored "Damaged" (5:23) and the short but utterly delightful "Us And Them" (1:52).

If you are a devoted watcher of this terrific TV series, like me, I would recommend having them both so you can have the extra tracks.

The first CD received a Sammy Film Music Award for Best New Television Score.

A special kudo goes to John Lunn for his marevlous score, one of the best yet written for a TV series, and for providing listeners with such wistful and welcome sounds for Downton Abbey.

Long live may the TV series and its music live on!

-- Roger Hall, 2 January 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a 2 CD set with "The Downton Christmas Suite, part 1 and 2" arranged by John Lunn, plus lots of familiar Christmas carols and favorites by assorted classical recording artists (who is that singing with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa? Not listed), plus a few vocals on CD 1 by members of the Downton Abbey cast (Elizabeth McGovern, and especially the stellar voice of Julian Ovenden), plus a fine reading of "'Twas The Night Before Christmas" by the stern but admirable "Mr. Carson" (Jim Carter):

 

Christmas At Downton Abbey [+digital booklet]

 

Christmas at Downton Abbey

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A GUIDE TO FILM MUSIC
(on multi-media DVD
with bonus music and video)

 

 

The Sammy Film Music Awards

The 27th Sammy Film Music Awards
will be announced on 8 February 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

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