Pierre Degeyter

Early Life

Pierre Chrétien De Geyter was born in Ghent, Belgium, into a family originally from French Flanders. His parents moved to work in the textile factories, and when he was seven, they relocated to Lille, France, where Pierre began working as a thread maker. He learned to read and write through evening classes for workers and later enrolled at the Lille Academy, initially taking drawing classes that led him to a job as a woodcarver. His musical journey began when he joined the workers' choir "La Lyre des Travailleurs," founded by socialist leader Gustave Delory.

Career

De Geyter is best known for composing the music of "The Internationale," a song that became the anthem of socialism and was later adopted by the Soviet Union. His work gained significant recognition, especially after the Soviet Union's leaders discovered his identity in 1927, inviting him to Moscow to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the October Revolution. During this visit, he was honored alongside notable figures and awarded a state pension by Joseph Stalin, which became his primary source of income in his later years.

Later Life and Legacy

Despite his contributions to music and socialism, De Geyter faced financial struggles in his later years, relying on modest fees from his compositions. He lived in a free apartment provided by the left-wing administration of Saint-Denis but remained in precarious conditions. After his death in 1932, his impact was evident as over fifty thousand people attended his funeral, reflecting his significance in the socialist movement and the music world. His legacy endures through his compositions, particularly "The Internationale," which continues to resonate in various political movements worldwide.