“Imagine a melody,” I say as we gather at Rue Pierre Degeyter. This street bears the name of a man whose music ignited hearts. It echoed through streets and across nations. Today, we explore the legacy of Pierre Degeyter right here on Rue Pierre Degeyter.
Pierre Degeyter was not born French. He was born in Ghent Belgium in 1848. His family sought work in Lille France. They were textile workers. Pierre also joined the workforce. He became a thread maker. But his heart belonged to music.
At 16, Pierre began evening music classes. He won first prize at 38. In 1888, he led the Lyre des Travailleurs. This was a Lille musical society. Gustave Delory commissioned him to set a poem to music. The poem was L’Internationale by Eugéne Pottier. It was to become the anthem of the French Workers’ Party. Degeyter composed the music at La Liberté. This was a café and the Lyre’s headquarters in Lille.
The music was simply signed “Degeyter.” This did not shield him from consequences. Employers labeled him a dangerous revolutionary. He had to leave Lille. His family moved to Saint-Denis. Later, his brother Adolphe contested his authorship. A lawsuit ensued. In 1922, Pierre was finally declared the rightful composer. This was years after Adolphe’s suicide.
L’Internationale became an immediate success. It spread from France to the world. In 1889, it became the anthem of the Second International. When socialists and communists split, Degeyter chose the latter.
In 1927, Stalin invited Degeyter to Moscow. It was for the October Revolution’s 10th anniversary. Degeyter directed a choir at a meeting of the Communist International in 1928. Stalin granted him a state pension for his work. Despite this, he died in relative poverty. Fifty thousand people attended his funeral. Later, his name faded. But his music lived on.
Several places honor Degeyter today. His birthplace Ghent has a statue of him since 1998. Lille named a square after him in 2007. His face appears on a large mural at the Fives Cail Babcock factory in Lille. This is where he once worked. Several streets bear his name. Rue Pierre Degeyter here is one of them. Saint-Denis also has a square named after him.
Rue Pierre Degeyter reminds us of his powerful legacy. His music championed the oppressed. It resonated with workers worldwide. This street serves as a tribute to a composer. He turned a revolutionary poem into a global anthem. It is a fitting tribute to a man whose melodies fueled movements. Take a moment to reflect on the power of music. Remember its ability to inspire change.