The Auditorium
For nearly six centuries Jeanne d’Arc has inspired composers, musicians, singers that have creating amazing Musical tributes. The following lists cover various musical works, include representations in popular culture and operas and oratorios. Lesser known works, particularly from early periods, are not included.
Most survive only in research libraries. In 1894 Émile Huet listed over 400 plays and musical works about Jeanne d’Arc Despite a great deal of scholarly interest in Jeanne d’Arc no complete list of artistic works about her exists, although a 1989 doctoral dissertation did identify all relevant films including ones for which no copy survives.
I had a Voice from God
I was thirteen when I had a Voice from God for my help and guidance. The first time that I heard this Voice, I was very much frightened; it was mid-day, in the summer, in my father’s garden. I had not fasted the day before. I heard this Voice to my right, towards the Church; rarely do I hear it without its being accompanied also by a light. This light comes from the same side as the Voice. Generally it is a great light. Since I came into France I have often heard this Voice. … If I were in a wood, I could easily hear the Voice which came to me. It seemed to me to come from lips I should reverence. I believe it was sent me from God. When I heard it for the third time, I recognized that it was the Voice of an Angel.
This Voice has always guarded me well, and I have always understood it; it instructed me to be good and to go often to Church; it told me it was necessary for me to come into France. You ask me under what form this Voice appeared to me? You will hear no more of it from me this time. It said to me two or three times a week: ‘You must go into France.’ My father knew nothing of my going.
The Voice said to me: ‘Go into France !’ I could stay no longer. It said to me: ‘Go, raise the siege which is being made before the City of Orleans. Go !’ it added, ‘to Robert de Baudricourt, Captain of Vaucouleurs: he will furnish you with an escort to accompany you.’ And I replied that I was but a poor girl, who knew nothing of riding or fighting.
I went to my uncle and said that I wished to stay near him for a time. I remained there eight days. I said to him, ‘I must go to Vaucouleurs.’ He took me there. When I arrived, I recognized Robert de Baudricourt, although I had never seen him. I knew him, thanks to my Voice, which made me recognize him.
Second public examination (22 February 1431)
c. 1424 ?
Domremy, in Jacques d’Arc’s garden. “She was thirteen years old; she heard a voice coming from God to help her control herself. And the first time she felt a great fear. And that voice came about midday, in the summer, in her father’s garden” (Tisset II, p. 46).
“Joan of Arc is burned at the stake” May 30, 1431.
Old time radio recording of CBS IS THERE “News Broadcasts” CBS IS THERE, later renamed YOU ARE THERE was a completely different kind of program. CBS broke new ground when they sent “reporters” and “correspondents” into dramatized re-enactments of important historical events. There these CBS people reported on the action as it happened. They interviewed the main players along with fast, breath-taking news taking the radio audience into the eye of the storm. The series was aired from 1947 to 1950. Total of 90 shows, and one of them was about Jeanne d’Arc.World War I song
This song serves as testament that Jeanne d’Arc was one of the greatest and most profound icon of The First World War. “Joan of Arc” was written in 1917. Singer Henry Burr performed the song. Written by Alfred Bryan, Willie Weston and Jack Wells. Label: Columbia. Format: Shellac, 10″, 78 RPM. Country: USA & Canada. Released: 1917. In September 1917, it reached the number two spot on the US song charts.Ecce Joanna François Rossé Rouen abbatiale St Ouen 01 06 2012
Recording of the work “Ecce Joanna” June 1, 2012 to mark the 600th anniversary of the birth of Jeanne d’Arc. The theme asks the political recovery of Jeanne d’Arc starting with Charles VII himself and the Church, and finally the extreme nationalist political parties.
Margot Messler, soprano, Jefferson Desmoulains reciting, Gérard Siracusa, percussion improvisation, Francois Rosse, piano improvisation are integrated in Rouen Conservatory Orchestra directed by Claude Brendel.
Music – In popular culture
| Date | Title | Artist/Group | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | Joan of Arc | Henry Burr | Performed by Henry Burr on Columbia’s label. |
| 1917 | Joan of Arc’s Answer Song | J. L. Lavoy | The sheet music cover has an illustration of Joan of Arc on horseback with outstretched sword with soldiers of various nations charging underneath. |
| 1917 | Joan of Arc They Are Calling You | Jack Wells | The cover illustration for the sheet music to this song depicts Joan of Arc leading an attack. |
| 1970 | Songs of Love and Hate (album) | Leonard Cohen | Contains a song (released as a single in 1971) titled “Joan of Arc”, and lyrics in the song “Last Year’s Man” that refer to her: “I met a lady, she was playing with her soldiers in the dark, oh one by one she had to tell them that her name was Joan of Arc.” |
| 1975 | “Kimberly” (song) | Patti Smith | From the album Horses, includes the lyrics, “The sea rushes up my knees like flame/ And I feel like just some misplaced Joan Of Arc.” |
| 1981 | Architecture & Morality (album) | Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark | Contains two songs about Joan of Arc titled “Joan of Arc” and “Joan of Arc (Maid of Orleans)”, both were released as singles. |
| 1984 | “Eu Não Matei Joana d’Arc” (song) | Camisa de Vênus | Name of song means “I did not kill Joan of Arc”. Humorous song where a man says that he never had an affair with Joan of Arc and is innocent in her death. |
| 1986 | “Bigmouth Strikes Again” (song) | The Smiths | Includes the lyrics, “And now I know how Joan of Arc felt, as the flames rose to her Roman nose and her Walkman started to melt,” and “And now I know how Joan of Arc felt, as the flames rose to her Roman nose and her hearing aid started to melt.” |
| 1993 | Houdini (album) | The Melvins | Contains a song titled “Joan of Arc”. |
| 1994 | Voices of Light (album) | Richard Einhorn | An oratorio inspired by the silent film The Passion of Joan of Arc. The libretto is based on excerpts from a variety of ancient writings, most of it from Medieval female mystics. |
| formed 1995 | Joan of Arc | The name of an indie rock band from Chicago | |
| 1995 | “Vow” (song) | Garbage | Includes the lyrics, “You burned me out but I’m back at your door/ Like Joan of Arc coming back for more.” |
| 1998 | “Joan of Arc (7″)” (single) | Low (band) | Released on Tugboat Records |
| 1998 | “Siren” (album) | Heather Nova | Contains the song I’m the Girl, in which Heather sings: “I’m a Joan of Arc, I’m the girl next door.” |
| first release 1998 | Janne Da Arc | Japanese rock band named after the character in the manga Devilman by Go Nagai | |
| 1999 | “She’s So High” (song) | Tal Bachman | Includes the lyrics, “She’s so high/ like Cleopatra, Joan of Arc, or Aphrodite”, which speaks of the focus woman as being as smart as Cleopatra, as brave as Joan of Arc, and as beautiful as Aphrodite. |
| 1999 | “Right on Time” (song) | Red Hot Chili Peppers | From the album Californication, includes the lyrics, “Joan of Arc reincarnated/ Maybe we could be related/ So much blood to circulate/ And so much space to decorate.” |
| 2000 | “The Hall of the Olden Dreams”(Album) | Dark Moor | An album released from a Spanish power metal band. The album contains a song titled “Maid of Orleans”, which is about life of Joan of Arc. |
| 2002 | “Did Anybody Sleep With Joan of Arc?” (song) | Elton John (music), Bernie Taupin (lyrics) | A summary of Joan of Arc’s life. |
| 2002 | “Free & Easy” (song) | Ayumi Hamasaki | Japanese singer and songwriter, based the lyrics and music video for her single on her interpretation of Joan of Arc’s feelings. She also produced a photobook entitled “Hamasaki Republic – Free & Easy” where she was dressed as a warrior, a nun, and a knight. |
| 2003 | “Cadence” (song) | Anberlin | Includes the lyrics “Burning like Joan of Arc to See You”, appearing on the band’s debut album Blueprints for the Black Market. |
| 2004 | A Lifetime of Temporary Relief (album) | Low (band) | Minnesota-based indie rock band released two versions of their song “Joan of Arc.” |
| 2005 | Plague Angel (album) | Marduk | Black metal band from Sweden, have a song entitled “Everything Bleeds”, which is about Jeanne d’Arc. |
| 2005 | Aerial (album) | Kate Bush | Sings about Joan of Arc in “Joanni.” |
| 2005 | Jeanne d’Arc (album) | Thy Majestie | Concept album about Joan of Arc by a power metal band from Italy. |
| 2005 | Jeanne d’Arc (album) | Tangerine Dream | Musical tribute to Joan of Arc performed on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the French Cathedral in Berlin. |
| 2006 | “World of Stone” (song) | Blackmore’s Night | The song is about Joan of Arc, appearing on their 5th studio album, The Village Lanterne. |
| 2006 | Joan of Arc (album) | Tony Conrad | Joan of Arc is a 2006 album by mimimalist composer Tony Conrad. The piece, which lasts unbroken for over an hour, was originally written by Conrad as a soundtrack to accompany Piero Heliczer’s eponymousshort film. |
| 2006 | “The Martyr’s Lounge” (song) | Ellis Paul | Includes the lyrics, “JFK, Joan of Arc / sit in the corner, kissing in the dark”. |
| 2008 | The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter (album) | Josh Ritter | The song “To the Dogs or Whoever” (the album’s opening track) mentions Joan of Arc and other historical women |
| 2008 | Godspeed on the Devil’s Thunder (album) | Cradle of Filth | A concept album about the life of Joan of Arc’s companion-in-arms Gilles de Rais, in which she is a central character. |
| 2008 | “Joan” (song) | Heather Dale | The fifth track on her fourth studio album, The Gabriel Hounds. Joan sings the story of her own life and crusade. |
| 2008 | “Lenders In The Temple” (song) | Conor Oberst | Includes the lyrics “So watch your back, the Ides of March, Cut your hair like Joan of Arc” |
| 2010 | “Pearl” (song) | Katy Perry | Includes the lyrics “She could be a Joan of Arc” |
| 2013 | “Joan of Arc” (song) | Arcade Fire | The seventh track in Arcade Fire’s fourth studio album Reflektor. |
| 2013 | “Miley Cyrus vs Joan of Arc” (song) | Epic Rap Battles of History | Singer and actress Miley Cyrus (Michelle Glavan) battles French folk heroine Joan of Arc (Jessi Smiles). |
| 2015 | “Joan of Arc” (song) | Madonna | The eight song on madonna’s album Rebel Heart. |