Well, let me start by saying that it sucks to be Johnny-come-lately to a thread that has been in existence for awhile! I spent the last hour reading all of the posts on this topic, but I really liked the subject and wanted to see what everyone had to say before I commented. That being said, it's time to play catch up.
First, my ideas for great soundtracks. I was shocked that only one person mentioned an Elfman soundtrack (Nightmare Before Christmas). Surely someone else appreciates "Edward Scissorhands" or "Batman". Of course, many of my favorites were mentioned (Braveheart, LOTR, Gladiator...geesh, why do the best soundtracks appear in movies of this genre?)
I have to give a hats off to barfle for being the first to mention 2001, a personal fave of mine.
Now to the discussion that ensued after everyone had named their favorite soundtrack(s)...film music as classical music? Of course not. There hasn't been any classical music made in over 150 years. Indeed, the music of that era was a foundation of the era's that followed, but the simple fact is that music is alive. It breeds and has offspring that shares some of the former's characteristics, but takes on a life of it's own. Almost all genre's of music can be linked to any other form if one looks for the connections.
As for the rules of classical music, I say this... they should be more like guidelines.
It wasn't the rules that made the music great, it was a composer disregarding the rules that made the music great. So now that we have had multiple permutations of those rules such that we now have film music that does not seem to fit in the old rules to me is not necessarily a bad thing. It is just a new artform.Anyway, here's is my solution. If someone incorrectly calls film music 'classical', offer up this correction.... call it 'orchestral' music. For most soundtracks, this would fit well. Or just call it a soundtrack.
)AND a great soundtrack. The modern arrangements by Walter...*ahem*...Wendy Carlos were very enjoyable, or at least for me.