Joinville Organ Festival

A Musical Gem in the Heart of Haute-Marne

The Joinville Organ Festival showcases one of the most remarkable instruments in the Grand Est region: the Louis Le Bé organ of 1688, located in the Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité church in Joinville. Organized annually 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 unique and accessible musical moments to all.

An Exceptional Historic Organ

The Joinville organ is a rare 17th-century instrument, the work of builder Louis Le Bé. Built in 1688 for the palace of the Counts of Champagne in Troyes, it was purchased by the town of Joinville in 1698. Originally, it was a single-case organ with 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 features 30 stops (i.e., 30 distinct sounds) spread 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 Gothic tracery, forming a remarkable heritage ensemble. The organ case and the gallery were restored in 1984 by the Maimponte workshop, restoring the ensemble to its original splendor.

Quality Programming

Each season, the festival offers a series of five to six concerts spread from May to September. The programming features renowned organists, both French and international, who perform a varied repertoire ranging from baroque to romantic periods, including contemporary works and sacred music. The 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 recognized organists. In 2025, the program included, among others, the Fossano Brass Ensemble for the National Organ Day, the Trompettes de Versailles with the Grand Ensemble de cuivres et orgue « Les Symphonies Royales », Sébastien Vial (organist of 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. Presided over by organist Gilles de L'Assomption, the titular organist of Joinville, it also organizes guided tours of the instrument and contributes to the valorization of the organ heritage of the Notre-Dame church. The association is committed to transmitting and raising awareness of organ music, an instrument often unknown to the general public.

A Remarkable Heritage Setting

The Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité church of Joinville is 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 townhouses, and the Château du Grand Jardin. The acoustics of the Notre-Dame church, with its stone vaults, enhance the organ's sounds and provide an immersive musical experience.

Free and Open Concerts for All

True to its mission of making organ music accessible to as many people as possible, the festival offers free admission to all its concerts. This free access, made possible by the support of the municipality of Joinville, the department of Haute-Marne, and private donors, allows a diverse audience—from informed amateurs to curious newcomers—to discover the sonic richness of this exceptional instrument in a unique historical setting.