Who composed the distinctive musical score for the TV series Twin Peaks?

Angelo Badalamenti composed the distinctive musical score for Twin Peaks.

Badalamenti worked closely with co-creator David Lynch, creating music that could sound romantic, eerie, melancholy or dreamlike. His main theme became one of the most recognizable pieces of television music from the early 1990s.

The score is often mistakenly treated as separate from the show’s identity, but music is essential to Twin Peaks’ atmosphere. Recurring themes help connect characters and locations, while shifts in arrangement can make familiar scenes feel unsettling.

Badalamenti’s collaboration with Lynch extended beyond Twin Peaks to films including Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart and Mulholland Drive. He also returned for Twin Peaks: The Return, preserving the musical connection between the original series and its continuation.