Who composed the main theme music for Game of Thrones?

Ramin Djawadi composed the main theme music for Game of Thrones. He wrote the famous instrumental piece that accompanies the show's opening title sequence and also composed the broader series score.

Djawadi joined the production after the original pilot composer, Stephen Warbeck, left the project. HBO music supervisor Evyen Klean recommended him to creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, who sent Djawadi the first two episodes to help him understand the show's world and tone.

The theme was inspired by an early version of the animated title sequence, which travels across a map of Westeros and Essos. Its prominent cello sound was chosen partly because Benioff and Weiss wanted to avoid the flutes and solo vocals common in fantasy scores. Djawadi also shifted between minor and major tonalities to suggest the show's uncertainty, conspiracies, and sudden reversals.

A common mix-up is confusing the composer with the performers who later covered or rearranged the theme. Djawadi remained the credited composer for the series' music across all eight seasons.