Music of Game of Thrones

[3] The music of Game of Thrones has inspired many cover versions; the main title theme is particularly popular.

[5] Initially a different composer, Stephen Warbeck, was hired for the pilot episode of Game of Thrones but he left the project.

[7] Djawadi, although initially interested, declined the offer three days later as the schedule conflicted with a film project he was working on.

[10] They wanted the music to express the emotion and mood of each scene in the series, and that distinct themes should be created for the main characters.

[11] Benioff and Weiss also wanted a soundscape that is distinct from other productions in the fantasy genre, therefore flutes and solo vocals were initially avoided.

Cello became a prominent feature of the music of Game of Thrones, notably in its title theme.

After Djawadi had seen the preliminary animated title sequence the visual effect artists were still working on, he was inspired to write the piece.

[12] Djawadi composed an individual leitmotif or theme for each of the major houses, as well as for some locations and some characters.

Arya Stark is the first of the house to have her own theme, first heard when she started her lesson on swordplay in episode three of season one, with the music featuring a hammered dulcimer.

The song was played at the Red Wedding, but first heard when Tyrion Lannister whistled a small part in the first episode of the second season.

[21] Djawadi chose distinctive sounds and instruments for different leitmotifs and themes, for example, didgeridoos are used for the wildlings, while the Armenian duduk flute is used for the Dothrakis.

[18] Syllables and words in Valyrian, a fictional language of Game of Thrones, are also used in her theme music, although not as whole sentences.

[19] For the dragons, the theme is first heard when they hatched at the end of season one as a quiet high-pitched melody, but develops into something more powerful by the time they become fully grown, for example it is played with French horns in the loot train attack scene in the seventh season.

For example, in Season 5, the music for House of Black and White is an extension from the themes for Arya and Jaqen H'ghar.

A notable piece is the "Light of the Seven", which is played at the beginning of the final episode of season 6, "The Winds of Winter".

[27] In season 3, Gary Lightbody appeared in a cameo amongst other captors of Brienne of Tarth and Jaime Lannister in season 3 episode 4 to sing "The Bear and the Maiden Fair",[28] and a recording of the song performed by The Hold Steady was played over that episode's closing credits.

[29][5] The same season Kerry Ingram, who played the character Shireen Baratheon, sang "It's Always Summer Under the Sea".

In season 8, Daniel Portman who played the character Podrick Payne sang "Jenny of Oldstones" a song from the book A Storm of Swords but with additional lyrics by David Benioff and Dan Weiss and composer Ramin Djawadi providing the music.

[31][32] The full version of the song titled "Jenny of Oldstones" was sung by Florence Welch, and played over the closing credits of the second episode "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms".

Djawadi said "We have the drums, and it’s just maybe not what you’d expect of wedding music—tribal isn’t the right word, but the percussive element, there’s definitely a strong background of that there.

[17][51] A world tour was also arranged for cities in Europe and North America in 2018, with new music from season 7 added.