Joachim Havard de la Montagne

Joachim Havard de la Montagne (30 November 1927 – 1 October 2003) was a French composer, organist and choral director.

Havard de la Montagne was the son of French parents who settled in Geneva, where his father worked for an international organisation. After the war he moved to Paris and studied music at the École César Franck. From 1947 to his retirement in 1996, this organist, composer, musicologist and conductor served religious music, notably in Paris at the churches of Sainte-Marie des Batignolles (), Sainte-Odile and the liberal synagogue Copernic. Havard de la Montagne held the position of Kapellmeister at the église de la Madeleine in Paris, assisted by his wife Elisabeth, also and organist and harpsichordist. In 1971-1974, he founded the Choirs and the "Ensemble Instrumental de la Madeleine", with which he gave more than 300 concerts.

He is the author of an extensive repertoire of classical music, very inspired by Gabriel Fauré, Maurice Duruflé, Louis Vierne and Gregorian chant.

Joachim Havard de la Montagne died in Geneva on 1 October 2003 aged 75, following a long illness.

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