Sleeping Beauty (Motion Picture Soundtrack) [Walt Disney Records: The Legacy Collection]

Reissued on the 50th anniversary of Disney’s classic princess film, George Bruns' soundtrack boasts bold instrumentation that really knows how to set the scene. Lyrics are used sparingly—tracks like “Once Upon a Dream” are sweet, swoon-worthy exceptions—as the instruments and arrangements speak volumes for themselves. From chipper horns to foreboding violins and booming bass drums, the music manages to say it all. This lush, classical score, adapted from Tchaikovsky's ballet, is a textbook example of how music can help to tell a story.