ALASTAIR KING: THE MUSIC OF DOWNTON ABBEY

Behind the music of Downton Abbey: orchestrator reveals the art of film composition.

A fascinating talk and insight into how composer John Lunn’s iconic Downton Abbeyscore came to life on screen. Alastair King presents live musical examples, analysis and video clips, alongside insights from his own appearances and behind-the-scenes anecdotes. Featuring Alastair King on piano and Claire King on clarinet.

About Alastair King
Alastair King has had a career as an orchestrator, conductor, composer and educator.
His concert music has won prizes and had many performances worldwide. In 2001 he was
the only European finalist in Masterprize with his orchestral work Hit The Ground (Running,
Running, Running) which was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra under Daniel
Harding and broadcast by BBC Radio 3. He has also written ten well-loved piano pieces for beginners which includes The Grand Prix and The Blue Chicken.

Alastair has worked on more than 100 media projects, including Harry Potter and the Order of the
Phoenix, Wonder Woman, The Meg, Chicken Run, Aquaman, The Martian, Over the Hedge
and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. Alastair conducted and orchestrated
all of Downton Abbey and has appeared in two of the films! He has also been involved with
one of his childhood favourites, Doctor Who, since 2015 and conducted the Doctor Who
Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in 2024.

Alastair is a regular conductor of the Chamber Orchestra of London (COOL) and has
conducted many other orchestras and choirs including BBC National Orchestra and Chorus
of Wales, London Symphony Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, BBC Concert Orchestra, National
Symphony Orchestra, London Session Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic, the Bach Choir, BBC
Singers, the Choir of the King’s Consort, London Philharmonic Choir, Vienna ORTF and
Munich Radio Orchestra.