Winter Has Come by Ramin Javadi

A decade ago, if you had asked someone about Ramin Djawadi, chances are only a handful of people would have recognized the name or been familiar with his work. Today, however, his name is inseparably tied to one of the most successful television series of our time. As the acclaimed composer behind Game of Thrones, Djawadi has not only earned numerous prestigious international awards for his work on the show’s expansive and widely beloved soundtrack, but has also garnered a vast global following within the world of music.

The significance of Djawadi’s work becomes especially clear when we consider how inseparably his music is woven into the fabric of the series. Certain scenes would simply be unimaginable without their musical counterpart—for instance, the haunting “Red Wedding” sequence, which owes much of its emotional impact to its unforgettable score. Among the standout compositions from the series is the piece titled “Winter Has Come,” which was released alongside Season 6 in 2016. This track accompanies the scene in which several noble houses declare loyalty to Jon Snow and proclaim him the King in the North. The emotional tone is clear: the music is meant to convey a sense of heroism and grandeur.

Djawadi composed the piece in C minor, with a 4/4 time signature—a rhythm known for its driving, pulsing beat. Given the epic nature of the scene, this choice seems especially fitting. The steady beat adds to the heroic feel of the composition, while the structured, deliberate rhythm lends the music a gripping, breathless momentum.

The orchestration features cello, violin, viola, and double bass as the primary instruments. The piece opens with a somber cello line and a delicate violin melody—slow, emotional, and filled with a quiet tension. The slightly mournful violin, set against the deep tones of the cello, hints at a transformation on the horizon. Gradually, the melancholy lifts: the higher-pitched instruments fade, and the lower registers take the lead. The double bass becomes more prominent, and percussion joins in, pushing the piece forward with rhythmic energy. The high violin tones return, soaring above the cello’s depth, and as the music builds toward the final minute, the intensity reaches its peak. Here, at the climax, the prolonged, trembling violin lines create a suspended, almost timeless moment—conveying the birth of a new legend, the dawn of something epic.

As the piece concludes, the percussion drops away. It ends with long, drawn-out cello notes that seem to fade unfinished, leaving us in a state of unresolved anticipation. It’s an open-ended finale—a glimpse into a heroic future still unknown, an epic that continues beyond the frame.