Downton Abbey Music

[Ro_Laren]

*****No Season 5 / Series 5 Spoilers*****

One of my favorite things to listen to is the soundtrack from Downton Abbey. But, I’ve noticed that it seems like each season they’ve played the same original soundtrack songs for background music. The exception is when the characters sing a song (ex: Lady Mary / Matthew singing If You Were the Only Girl in the World or Jack Ross singing jazz standards). Has anyone heard if they ever going to come up with some new music? Is it typical of British TV (or at least ITV) to play the same background music for each season of a TV show regardless of how many seasons there are?

 

[Timewalker]

I've only seen the first 3 seasons of Downton Abbey, and don't really recall the music.

Upstairs, Downstairs had essentially the same music throughout, but varied the key from season to season.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

I’ve noticed that it seems like each season they’ve played the same original soundtrack songs for background music. The exception is when the characters sing a song (ex: Lady Mary / Matthew singing If You Were the Only Girl in the World or Jack Ross singing jazz standards). Has anyone heard if they ever going to come up with some new music? Is it typical of British TV (or at least ITV) to play the same background music for each season of a TV show regardless of how many seasons there are?

I noticed the recycling of music cues when I binge rewatched the first three seasons in anticipation of the fourth. When you're watching two or three episodes a day -- and possibly four or five -- the repetitiveness of the music stands out.

I don't know if it's common to British television or not. Doctor Who reuses a lot of its music (fandom has been debating, for instance, whether or not the anniversary special had any new music), but a new piece does sneak through here or there.

Maybe it's a budgetary thing. "We can have an original score for the episode, or we can have more vintage dresses, but we can't do both!"

 

[Ro_Laren]

I figured that it was a budgetary thing. But part of me thinks that if the Sci-Fi channel produced Battlestar Galactica can bring us new music each season then why can't ITV's Downton Abbey. Don't get me wrong, I love the Downton Abbey music, but I'd love to hear them use some new stuff along the same vein.

 

[Timewalker]

I just saw a documentary about the castle where they film the show. It must cost quite a bit to rent the areas where they shoot the show.

 

[NeroShrimp]

The opening credits is probably the most beautiful music I've ever heard for a television series. It's great and it's quite memorable.

 

[Garak]

^ Definitely. I had it as my ringtone for a while.

 

[Stevil2001]

[yt]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-PcWfHQz0E[/yt]