Great Spooky &/or Melancholic Soundtrack/Classical

A second vote for "Once Upon a Time in America". Not easy to find in either CD or LP but if you have a choice, go for the LP...I have both and the LP is significantly better sounding. Another soundtrack that I like for the mood is from "True Confessions".
Good Luck!

"The Day the Earth Stood Still" on The Fantasy World of Bernard Herrmann is just one of four great soundtracks on this compilation. Also, Twin Peaks by Angelo Badalamenti, Bladerunner by Vangelis and Music for a Darkened Theatre by Danny Elfman. Vangelis' "Voices", while not a soundtrack, is a real tearjerker. Had you enough wine, of course.

The soundtrack for "Nosferatu" (Werner Herzog, 1978 I believe)
done by Popol Vuh should bring some serious laid-back tingles
and chills.

for the narrow genre you describe, you must listen to peter gabriel's "music for the last temptation of christ." i find it difficult yet spellbinding. much like much of phillip glass' works.

One of the first "soundtrack" albums I bought was from the movie "The Hunger" starring Catherine Deneuve, Susan Sarandon and David Bowie - weird vampire flick. This falls into the category of spooky / melancholy / classical- right up your alley.

As Albertporter mentioned above, Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance and currently under her own name with long time fellow artist Pieter Bourke produces beautiful instrumentals along with gorgeous vocals that will make you melt.

Film director Michael Mann loves using her in his films. Here's a list:

- 1999 The Insider
- 2000 Gladiator
- 2002 Ali

But if you like more mainstream melancholy / soaring type music check out Mike Figgis. He's a musician / songwriter / film director and does most of the scores for all his movies. Here's a list:

- 1988 Stormy Monday
- 1989 Internal Affairs
- 1991 Liebestraum
- 1995 Leaving Las Vegas
- 1997 One Night Stand
- 1998 Loss of sexual Innocence
- 1999 Miss Julie
- 1999 Time Code

The answer to the question, Score to the film "The English Patient" you must be thinking of the piano piece...if I'm correct you must be thinking of "The Goldberg Variations" BWV 988 by JS Bach Glenn Gould 1981 recording et al.

Let me know what you think Benny.