Chœur Montjoie Saint-Denis

The Chœur Montjoie Saint-Denis is a French amateur choir founded in 1979 that performs and records traditional French songs. It is associated with the French far right and with traditionalist Catholic circles.

History

The choir was founded in 1979 by Jacques Arnould,[1][2] a former Catholic scout leader,[3] who sought to preserve and transmit popular heritage through song.

Its repertoire includes more than 750 regional, military, rural, workers', historical, scouting, and religious songs, as well as contemporary compositions.[4]

Over more than forty years of activity under Arnould's direction, the Chœur Montjoie Saint-Denis has recorded more than 250 songs, released across around thirty albums.

Close to the traditionalist Catholic right,[5] the choir performs at numerous events connected to these milieus, often wearing historical costumes. These include the Chartres pilgrimages,[5] the Bleu-Blanc-Rouge Festival organized by the National Front in the 1980s and 1990s,[6] and the summer university of the Charlier Centre, among others.[5]

The choir has also sung at the funerals of several far-right figures, including Serge de Beketch in 2007,[7] François Brigneau in 2012,[8] and Roger Holeindre in 2020.

In May 2013, it took part in the National Day of Joan of Arc and Patriotism, organized by the Ministry for Veterans' Affairs, in front of the equestrian statue of Joan of Arc on the Place des Pyramides in Paris.[9]

Two other choirs were later founded by former members: the Joyeuse Garde Choir in Lyon in 1998 and the Oriflamme Choir in Orléans in 2019.[10]

References

  1. ^ http://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb14247451k/PUBLIC
  2. ^ "12 mai : quand l'État célèbre Jeanne d'Arc avec l'extrême droite". REFLEXes. 2013-04-30.
  3. ^ Breiz, Tugdual (2015-04-17). "Jacques Arnould (Choeur Montjoie Saint-Denis) : « Le patrimoine que nous chantons est vivant »". Le Rouge & le Noir.
  4. ^ "Chanter et servir". Chœur Montjoie Saint Denis. Archived from the original on 2022-08-26. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  5. ^ a b c Venner, Fiammetta (2006-11-02). Extrême France (in French). Grasset. ISBN 978-2-246-66609-7.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  6. ^ "Emmanuel Macron giflé : A quoi fait référence l'expression « Montjoie Saint-Denis » prononcée par l'agresseur du chef de l'Etat". 20 minutes. 2021-06-08.
  7. ^ "Messe d'enterrement". sdebeketch.com (in French). Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  8. ^ Forcari, Christophe (2012-04-13). "Brigneau, dernier linceul de l'extrême droite maréchaliste". Libération (in French). Archived from the original on 2025-09-18. Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  9. ^ D'Angelo, Robin (2013-05-09). "Une chorale d'extrême droite joue les MC à la cérémonie d'Etat pour Jeanne d'Arc". StreetPress (in French). Retrieved 2026-03-13.
  10. ^ "Notre histoire". Chœur Montjoie Saint-Denis. Archived from the original on 2015-08-19.
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