🎻 Interesting Facts About Alexey Rybnikov’s Music – "Meeting" from the Film "The Tale of the Star Boy"
1. The Film and the Role of the Music The composition "Meeting" is featured in the Soviet TV film "The Tale of the Star Boy" (1983, dir. Leonid Nechaev) – an adaptation of the同名 story by Oscar Wilde. The melody accompanies key moments related to the protagonist, a star boy who is exiled for his pride and cruelty and undergoes a journey of redemption.
Interestingly, Rybnikov composed not only instrumental themes for this film but also vocal pieces, yet "Meeting" became one of the most memorable melodies.
2. Features of the Composition The melody is built around a recurring leitmotif, creating a sense of journey, search, and transformation. Unlike the more famous "Meeting" from "That Very Munchhausen," this piece is softer and tinged with sadness, fitting the fairy-tale yet dramatic narrative.
The delicate, simple violin melody plays against a backdrop of an anxious ostinato rhythm. Classical instruments blend with modern percussion and electric guitars, while varied harmonies and modulations create a fairy-tale atmosphere, characteristic of the composer’s style.
3. Connection to Rybnikov’s Other Works In "The Star Boy," the composer continues his experiments with folk and chamber sounds, as seen in earlier works like "The Adventures of Buratino."
Some motifs echo those from "Juno and Avos," but here they are more intimate and lyrical.
Unlike his large-scale rock operas, this melody is concise and focused on a single emotional state.
Notably, while the original version featured a string ensemble, a solo violin performance makes the melody even more poignant.
🎶 A Brief Creative Journey of Alexey Rybnikov
The composer began his career dreaming of musical theater, even setting up his first "stage" in his basement. After graduating from the Central Music School and studying under Khachaturian, he debuted in film in 1966 ("Lelka").
He has created over 100 soundtracks, including iconic works such as:
"The Adventures of Buratino" (millions of vinyl records sold); "That Very Munchhausen" (the famous "Meeting"); "You Never Even Dreamed Of."
Collaborating with Mark Zakharov, he wrote the first Soviet rock operas – "The Star and Death of Joaquin Murrieta" and the timeless "Juno and Avos." In the 1990s, he turned to spiritual music ("Liturgy of the Catechumens," Fifth Symphony).
Today, he is working on an opera based on "War and Peace," maintaining his status as a living classic. His music – from children’s fairy tales to philosophical symphonies – remains timeless.
