Poet Ryashentsev explained the origins of the author’s song and the phenomenon of Gorodnitsky

“Inherent in Romantics”

March 20 marks the 90th anniversary of the famous poet, one of the founders of the art song movement, and, in addition to all this, the outstanding geophysicist Alexander Gorodnitsky. According to media reports, Alexander Moiseevich celebrates his anniversary in the hospital ward, so on this day the MK correspondent talked not with him, but about him, with the poet, famous author of lyrics for cinema and theater, Yuri Ryashentsev. And although our interlocutor in the interview refuses to consider himself a member of the sixties, the first question was about this unique generation of free and talented people. Here is what Ryashentsev said about the origins of the national author’s song.

– The entire tourist folklore, that amateur song that resulted in the author’s song, was inherent in romantic people. They were drawn to a change of place: somewhere in the Caucasus, in Siberia. In these campaigns, songs were born, first written to well-known melodies that dominated society at that time, and then, starting with Yura Vizbor, they began to be written to their own melodies. And among this generation, a group of people was born who treat their lyrics not as just lyrics, but as poetry. They belonged to a tradition insisted on Russian poetry, that the word could exist without the guitar. But from the connection with the guitar, it won! This is Yuri Kim, Veronica Dolina. I’m not talking about the fact that Okudzhava and Vysotsky were perceived at first exclusively as bards. Alik Gorodetsky took a place of honor among them. Everyone respected him, and it was he who was the organizer of festivals, including the Grushinsky festival.

– Gorodnitsky is also famous for his heroic deeds – he descended to terrible depths on the Mir apparatus in the North Atlantic, conquered the North Pole and Antarctica. The current predominantly “sofa” generation, to which I belong, can only say: “There were people in your time.”

– I don’t know if it’s possible to say that earlier people were more courageous… But Alik did participate in expeditions worthy of poetry. And sometimes we were surprised to learn that what was sometimes written (and often he did not even write about it) was connected with such a heroic immersion in water, very dangerous and interesting things. This is a combination of two professions – a poet and a geologist, very happy, I think.

– What work of Gorodnitsky do you consider his main success?

– Probably, “Atlantes”, because it is customary to associate it with this song.

At this moment, Galina Polidi, the wife of Yuri Ryashentsev, joins the conversation, and half-jokingly offers her own version:

– Let’s say that “Sails” Kruzenshtern “because your wife is a relative of the Russian navigator.

Ryashentsev laughs and continues:

– But, by the way, a descendant of Kruzenshtern is a great admirer of Gorodnitsky’s talent.

– Yuri Evgenievich, the hero of the day is in the hospital now, what words would you like to convey to him?

– I wish him every well-being, so that he leaves the hospital as soon as possible. There are very few of us left, and he deserves a long, long life.