Perhaps you’ve never heard of him. Avenue Pierre de Geyter in Paris stands as a testament to a man whose music ignited a global movement. This avenue commemorates Pierre Degeyter. He was the composer of “The Internationale.”
Pierre Degeyter was born in Ghent, Belgium in 1848. His family faced hardship. They moved to Lille, France seeking work in textile factories. At ten, Pierre worked in those mills. He attended night school and showed musical talent. With his brother Adolphe, he entertained workers. They used his melodies and lyrics.
In 1870, the Franco-Prussian War broke out. Degeyter enlisted in the French army. After the front collapsed, he tried to reach the Paris Commune. Soldiers arrested him just outside the city.
Later, Degeyter worked at an iron foundry in Lille. The city teemed with political activity. Workers formed associations. Degeyter became choirmaster of “La Lyre des Travailleurs.” This workers’ choir was politically significant. Degeyter sought lyrics to set to music. Gustave Delory, a socialist leader, gave him a book. It contained poems by Eugène Pottier. Delory suggested he write a revolution song.
Degeyter found a poem titled “Internationale.” Pottier had written it in 1871. Degeyter created a melody on a Sunday morning. His brother Adolphe played it on the bugle. “The Internationale” was born. It was first sung in July 1888 at a trade union fête. The song became an anthem for the Socialist movement. It swept France and then the world.
However, composing the music brought Degeyter hardship. Employers identified him as the composer. He lost his job. He moved to Saint-Denis near Paris. There he worked as a lamplighter. His brother Adolphe falsely claimed copyright in 1901. Pierre won a lawsuit. Only after Adolphe’s suicide in 1916 was the decision reversed. This happened in 1922.
“The Internationale” became the Soviet Union’s national anthem. In 1927, Soviet leaders learned Degeyter was still alive. They invited him to Moscow for the October Revolution’s 10th anniversary. Joseph Stalin granted him a state pension. This was his only income. He lived modestly. The town of Saint-Denis gave him a free apartment.
Degeyter died in Saint-Denis in 1932. Fifty thousand people attended his funeral. Even in France, his name mainly came up during copyright litigation. French courts ruled his compositions copyrighted until October 2017.
There are Pierre Degeyter streets and squares in other cities. These include Ghent, Lille, and Saint-Denis. Lille also named a procession giant after him. A bronze monument stands in Ghent’s MIAT. A 1978 documentary told his story. In 1927, he attended the October Revolution anniversary in Moscow. Tears streamed down his face during the anthem.
Degeyter supported education and workers’ rights. He participated in socialist movements. His life showed the power of art and activism. His legacy endures. Avenue Pierre de Geyter reminds us of his contribution. It is a reminder of the power of music. It is a reminder of the struggles for social justice. It is a tribute to a man who made a difference.