Joinville Organ Festival

A musical gem in the heart of Haute-Marne

The Joinville Organ Festival highlights one of the most remarkable instruments in the Grand Est region: the 1688 Louis Le Bé organ, installed in the Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité church in Joinville. Organized by the Renaissance de l'Orgue association, founded in 2011, this festival invites talented organists to perform in the exceptional setting of this historic church, offering the public unique musical moments accessible to all.

An exceptional historic organ

The Joinville organ is a rare 17th-century instrument, the work of organ builder Louis Le Bé. Built in 1688 for the palace of the Counts of Champagne in Troyes, it was acquired by the town of Joinville in 1698. Originally, it was a single-case organ containing 15 stops, including Montre 8', Bourdon 8', Prestant, Cornet, Flûte 4', Nazard, Doublette, Tierce, Larigot, Fourniture III, Cymbale III, Trompette, Cromorne, and Voix humaine. After numerous modifications over the centuries, the instrument was fully restored between 1978 and 1984 by the Alsatian builder Yves Koenig. Today, it has 30 stops (i.e., 30 distinct sounds) distributed across 3 manuals and a pedalboard, for a total of 2,142 pipes.

A Renaissance gallery classified as a Historic Monument

The organ is installed on a magnificent Renaissance gallery dating from the late 15th and early 16th centuries, classified as a Historic Monument since 1911. This gallery includes fourteen carved wooden panels with openwork Gothic fenestrations, forming a remarkable heritage ensemble. The organ case and gallery were restored in 1984 by the Maimponte workshop, restoring the ensemble to its original splendor.

A quality program

Typically, the festival offers a series of five to six concerts spread from May to September. The program features renowned French and international organists who perform a varied repertoire ranging from baroque music to the romantic period, including contemporary works and sacred music. Concerts are sometimes enhanced by the presence of brass ensembles, Gregorian choirs, or trumpeters, offering original and diverse programs.

Leading artists

Over the years, the festival has hosted many renowned organists. In 2025, the program notably included the Fossano Brass Ensemble for the National Organ Day, the Trompettes de Versailles with the Grand Brass and Organ Ensemble "Les Symphonies Royales", Sébastien Vial (organist from Mouzon) accompanied by the Gregorian choir of Reims Cathedral, Jean-Charles Ablitzer (musicologist and organist), and the Belgian trio Viva Fiamma.

The Renaissance de l'Orgue association

The Renaissance de l'Orgue association, created in 2011, organizes the festival and promotes the instrument to the public. Chaired by Fernand Guillemin, it also includes Daniel Carlier (vice-president), Nadine Zminka (treasurer), and Alain Voivret (secretary). The titular organist of the Joinville organ is Gilles de L'Assomption. The association also organizes guided tours of the instrument and contributes to the enhancement of the organ heritage of the Notre-Dame church, in an effort to transmit and raise awareness of organ music, an instrument often little known to the general public.

An ongoing restoration campaign

A public subscription for the restoration of the organ was launched in spring 2026, in partnership with the Fondation du Patrimoine, the Département de la Haute-Marne, the DRAC Grand Est, and the GIP. The financial target is approximately €28,000. The work includes a complete dismantling of the instrument, transport of the pipes to a workshop, internal cleaning, examination of the bellows, and precise re-tuning. During this period, some stops are no longer usable, which may affect the format of the festival's concerts; however, some musical events and educational presentations could still be maintained.

A remarkable heritage setting

The Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité church in Joinville provides an ideal setting for these organ concerts. Built between the 12th and 13th centuries, it is distinguished by its spire adorned with columns, statues, and clocks. Joinville itself, labeled Petite Cité de Caractère®, offers exceptional architectural heritage with its half-timbered houses, Renaissance mansions, and the Château du Grand Jardin. The acoustics of the Notre-Dame church, with its stone vaults, enhance the organ's sounds and offer an immersive musical experience.

Free concerts open to all

True to its mission of making organ music accessible to the widest possible audience, the festival offers free admission to all its concerts. This free access, made possible thanks to the support of the municipality of Joinville, the Haute-Marne department, and private donors, allows a varied public — from enlightened enthusiasts to curious novices — to discover the rich sounds of this exceptional instrument in a unique historical setting.