The Nidaros Cathedral Steinmeyer organ

[NTNU Pipe Organ Pages]
The Nidaros cathedral Steinmeyer organ was commissioned for the 900th anniversary of the battle of Stiklestad, where king Olav Haraldsson (Olav the Holy) fell. This anniversary was celebrated in 1930. The organ was funded mostly by donations, particularly a large one by the Norwegian emigrant to USA, director Elias Anton Cappelen Smith of New York. Several famous builders competed for the contract, such as Skinner (Boston), Cavaillé-Coll (Paris), Willis (London), Harrison & Harrison (Durham), Möller (Hagerstown), Walcker (Ludwigsburg) and G. F. Steinmeyer & Co. (Öttingen), who won the contract. Note that this happened only a short time after this firm completed the famous 208-rank instrument at Passau cathedral, later pronounced "The height and end of romantic organ building" (Hans Steinmeyer in "125 Jahre Orgelbau Steinmeyer", Festschrift, 1972).

As installed in 1930, the Nidaros cathedral Steinmeyer consisted of a main organ of 116 ranks, 2 unified ranks (Subbordun 32' and Contra- Bombarde 32') and 11 borrows/extensions, mainly in the pedal. In addition a Fernwerk with 9 ranks and one pedal borrow was installed in the cathedral's main tower. The main organ consisted of 7 divisions: Hauptwerk, two large Swell divisions, Solo division and a Rückpositiv, indicating an early "Orgelbewegung" influence. Some ranks were taken from their countries of origin, i.e. Tuba, Diapason Stentor and Geigenprincipal from England; Trompette and Clairon from France; French Horn from USA. The English high-pressure Trumpets for the Solo division were ordered from Willis in England. Total number of pipes in 1930 was about 10,600.

The organ was installed in the north transept, with the façade from the 1741 Wagner organ under the central tower's northern arch (see drawing at the bottom of this page). The rest of the old Wagner, which was in a miserable state at the time, was taken down and stored. Fitting the much larger Steinmeyer into the mediaeval architecture of the church was not an easy matter, and caused much controversy. Various solutions had been debated - it had even been suggested that the organ be placed in separate chambers outside the church. As the installation proceeded in the transept, the Rückpositiv, which initially had been put in it's traditional place on the gallery in front of the main organ, proved a major architectural problem, and had to be moved behind the façade with the rest of the divisions (excepting the Fernwerk). Before this happened, one newspaper referred to the Rückpositiv as "a wart on a giant nose"(!)

In spite of the controversy between the musical and architectural points of view, the organ remained in this location (the north transept). Then World War II came, and nothing could be done. In the beginning of the 1950's, however, things began to stir once again. Over the next decade or so the organ was moved, divided and reduced to it's present location and state. It is clear that Steinmeyer, Ludvig Nielsen (the organist) and others were of the opinion that

"... the whole organ must be moved, it must not be reduced as some have suggested".
And
"It (the organ) is known throughout the world, and since so many large instruments have been damaged during the War, it is one of the largest in Europe. Such a large church demands a large organ! I do not agree that it should be made smaller." (Steinmeyer in local newspapers, sept. 1953).
In spite of this the organ repeatedly had to be reduced on orders from the cathedral's chief architect, Helge Thiis. In a memorandum (jan. 1955) he wrote,
"I am not happy with the solution for the organ, which I find too large and voluminous - even in it's reduced state. I also worry about how all the swell shutters in the triforium will look, they are placed far forward (i.e. close to the gallery edge), and will certainly be annoying, as they destroy the visual depth of the triforium gallery".
He was supported by Frederik Konow Lund, member of the cathedral's Supervising Committee, who wrote (to Thiis):
"In the Church of St. Peter (Rome) they make do with a new organ of only 30 ranks, and it sounds really good. (...) In st. Peter's, the whole thing, including a gallery for the singers and organist, is on a concealed wagon, and can be rolled back and forth by means of a tiny, elegant motor. Not bad...".

The changes made in the fifties/sixties may be summed up as follows:
The main organ was removed from it's location in the transept. Most of it was placed in the west end of the nave. Hauptwerk and pedal divisions were located on a gallery over the main entrance to the church, and the Swell and Rückpositiv divisions were placed in the triforia on either side of the nave. The larger of the original Swell divisions, to which was added some new unit ranks, was moved to the chancel triforium for use as a separate chancel organ. The main console was placed on the new gallery in the west end of the nave, and a new, smaller console was placed on the church floor in the chancel for use with the chancel organ. To accommodate the organ to the new location, a number of ranks were left out and placed in storage. Among those removed were the English high-pressure trumpets from the Solo division. Tonal changes made to some ranks were influenced by "orgelbewegung" ideals. The Fernwerk is the only part of the organ that survived unchanged through this process.

The opus list of Orgelbau Steinmeyer lists rebuilds as well as new organs, restorations, and enlargements. However, the rebuilding of the Nidaros cathedral organ, spoken of by Hans Steinmeyer in 1954 as "probably the most comprehensive organ-rebuilding ever performed in Europe", is not mentioned at all.

The ranks removed from the organ in the rebuilding were stored in the nearby Archbishop's Palace, where they perished in a major fire in the early 1980's.

In 1989 a comittee was appionted for the Steinmeyer organ, consisting of organists Per Fridtjov Bonsaksen, Bjørn Kåre Moe and Bjørn Boysen. This committee has proposed a full restoration of the instrument. The organ builder Th. Kuhn AG, Männedorf, Switzerland, has examined the instrument. The report from this firm (1991) concludes that a restoration/reconstruction of the original Steinmeyer organ is strongly advisable.

"The organ has been subjected to alterations of an arbitrary nature. It's unity has been destroyed by the removal of the third manual. Placing the second manual (the Rückpositiv) in the triforium constitutes an acoustically unsatisfactory splitting of the organ. The loss of the high-pressure ranks from the Solo division is most unfortunate." (Th. Kuhn, 1991.)
The report also states:
"The rebuilding in 1962 must be considered an accident. Important ranks were lost. The concept was founded on chance and low cost rather than artistic idea and form."
And further, about the technical state of the organ:
"The condition of the pipes is excellent. Tuning devices are in impeccable condition. There are no traces of insect pests. There are no signs of oxidizing in the reed ranks."

Dispositions

Disposition of the Nidaros cathedral Steinmeyer organ, showing original state of affairs in 1930, and after relocation / reduction / rebuilding in 1962-1965, with separate stop list for 1965 choir organ. 1930 stop numbering and stop name spelling is from "Disposition und Kostenberechnung", by G. F. Steinmeyer & Co., 14 aug. 1929. Stop name spelling in 1962 disposition as on the organ's stop tablets. The combined 1930/1962/1965 stop lists shown below (apart from some minor alterations) was compiled by Bjørn Kåre Moe, and presented in his articles "Nidaros Domkirkes Steinmeyerorgel" in "Norsk Kirkemusikk" No. 7 and 8, 1995. Note that for proper viewing of the stoplist and ASCII drawings below, a 70-character wide display and a non-proportional font is needed.

G. F. Steinmeyer & Co. opus 1500.

DISPOSITION OF MAIN ORGAN 1930 AND 1962

MANUAL I
HAUPTWERK ("Great", unenclosed)

1930 . . . . . . . . . . . 1962  . . . . . . . . . . Changes in 1962

 1 Principal 16' . . . . . Principal 16'
 2 Bourdon 16' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed 
                           Gedectpommer 16'. . . . . New
 3 Principal 8' No.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Swell
 4 Principal 8' No.2 . . . Principal 8'
 5 Principal 8' No.3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
 6 Violoncello 8'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
 7 Gemshorn 8' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Rückpositiv?
 8 Doppelgedeckt 8'. . . . Doppelgedeckt 8'
 9 Flauto Major 8' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
10 Rohrflöte 8'. . . . . . Röhrflöite 8'
11 Quinte 5 1/3' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
12 Octave 4' . . . . . . . Oktav 4'
13 Principal 4'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Solo  
14 Offenflöte 4' . . . . . Flöite 4'
15 Gross Terz 3 1/5' . . . Flöte 2' . . . . . . . . Changed
16 Quinte 2 2/3' . . . . . Kvint 2 2/3'
17 Superoctave 2'  . . . . Superoktav 2'
18 Terz 1 3/5' . . . . . . Ters 1 3/5'
19 Cornett 4' 5 fach . . . Cornet 4' 5 fag
20 Mixtur 2' 6 fach  . . . Mixtur 2' 6 fag
21 Cimbel 1' 3 fach  . . . Cymbel 1' 3 fag
22 Bombarde 16'. . . . . . Bombarde 16'
23 Tromba 8' . . . . . . . Tromba 8'
24 Trompete 8' . . . . . . Trompet 8'
25 Clairon harmonique 4' . Clairon harm. 4'
26 Celesta (49 notes)  . . Celesta
27 Glocken (26 notes)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed

MANUAL II
SWELLWERK 

1930 . . . . . . . . . . . 1962  . . . . . . . . . . Changes in 1962

28 Salicional 16'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
29 Nachthorn 16' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To choir organ
                           Liebl. Gedeckt 16'. . . . New
30 Principal 8'. . . . . . Principal 8'
31 Dulciana 8' . . . . . . Dulciana 8'
                           Gamba celeste 8'. . . . . From manual III
32 Unda maris 8' . . . . . Unda maris 8'
33 Gedeckt 8'. . . . . . . Gedeckt 8'    
34 Quintatön 8'. . . . . . Kvintaten 8' 
35 Spitzflöte 8' . . . . . Spissflöite 8'
36 Principal 4'. . . . . . Principal 4'  
37 Fugara 4' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
38 Rohrflöte 4'. . . . . . Rörflöite 4'
39 Quinte 2 2/3' . . . . . Kvint 2 2/3'
                           Principal 2'. . . . . . . New
40 Sifflöte 2' . . . . . . Sifflöte 2'
41 Terz 1 3/5' . . . . . . Ters 1 3/5'
42 Larigot 1 1/3'. . . . . Larigot 1 1/3'
43 Septime 1 1/7'. . . . . Septim 1 1/7'
44 Sedecima 1' . . . . . . Sedecima 1'      
45 Mixtur 2' 4 fach  . . . Mixtur 2' 4 fach 
46 Contra Fagott 16' . . . Contra-Fagott 16'
47 Bassethorn 8' . . . . . Bassethorn 8'    
48 Clarinette 8' . . . . . Clarinett 8'    
49 Trompete 8' . . . . . . Trompet 8'      
50 French Horn 8'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
51 Euphone 4'              Euphone 4'

MANUAL III
SWELLWERK

1930 . . . . . . . . . . . 1962  . . . . . . . . . . Changes in 1962

52 Geigenprincipal 16' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To choir organ
53 Rohrflöte 16' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To choir organ
54 Principal major 8'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To choir organ
55 Principal minor 8'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To choir organ
56 Gamba 8'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To choir organ
57 Gamba celeste 8'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Man. II
58 Aeoline 8'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To choir organ
59 Vox coelestis 8'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To choir organ
60 Bordun 8' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To choir organ
61 Jubalflöte 8' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
62 Wienerflöte 8'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To choir organ
63 Prestant 4' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To choir organ
64 Gambette 4' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
65 Flute harmonique 4' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To choir organ
66 Kleingedeckt 4' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To choir organ
67 Quinte 2 2/3' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To choir organ
68 Piccolo 2'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To choir organ
69 Terz 1 3/5' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To choir organ
70 Kornett 5 fach 8' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
71 Plein jeu 5 fach 2 2/3' . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
72 Trompete 16'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Solo
73 Cornopean 8'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Solo
74 Trompette harmonique 8' . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Solo
75 Orchester-Oboe 8' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To choir organ
76 Vox Humana 8' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To choir organ
77 Klarine 4'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . To Solo
78 Harfe 8' (49 notes) . . Harpe 8'
   (Transm. No.26)         (Transm.)
79 Harfe 4'. . . . . . . . Harpe 4'
   (Transm. No.26)         (Transm.)

MANUAL IV
SOLO (enclosed in 1930; unenclosed in 1962)

1930 . . . . . . . . . . . 1962  . . . . . . . . . . Changes in 1962

91 Diapason Stentor 8' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
92 Geigenprincipal 8'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
                           Weitprincipal 8'. . . . . From manual I
                           Oktave 4' . . . . . . . . From manual I
93 Gross Mixtur 4' 5 fach  Grossmixtur 4' 5 fag
94 Tuba 16'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
95 Tuba 8' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
96 Tuba 4' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
97 Trompette orchestrale 8'. . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
                           Trompet 16' . . . . . . . From manual III
                           Trompette harm. 8'. . . . From manual III
                           Cornopean 8'. . . . . . . From manual III
                           Clarin 4' . . . . . . . . From manual III

RÜCKPOSITIV (unenclosed)
This division does not have a manual of it's own,
but may be played from manuals I through III and pedal.

1930 . . . . . . . . . . . 1962  . . . . . . . . . . Changes in 1962

80 Mild Principal 8' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
                           Gemshorn 8' . . . . . . . From manual I?
81 Violflöte 8'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
82 Cor de Nuit 8'. . . . . Cor de Nuit 8'
83 Prestant 4' . . . . . . Prestant 4'
84 Bachflöte 4'. . . . . . Bachflöte 4'
                           Gedeckt 4'. . . . . . . . New
85 Nasat 2 2/3'. . . . . . Nasat 2 2/3'
86 Blockflöte 2' . . . . . Blockflöte 2'
87 Nachthorn 1'. . . . . . Nachthorn 1'
88 Cimbel 1/2' 4 fach  . . Cimbel 1/2' 4 fach
89 Rankett 16' . . . . . . Rankett 16'
90 Krummhorn 8'. . . . . . Krummhorn 8'

FERNWERK (Enclosed)
These stops are unnumbered because the contract for this division
was signed at a somewhat later date than the rest of the organ.
Consequently it was not mentioned in Steinmeyer's "Disposition
und Kostenberechnungen" of 14. aug. 1929, from which the numbering
is taken. The Fernwerk does not have a manual of its own, but is 
played from manual IV when the Solo division is disconnected. It is 
located in the main tower, speaking through a grille of about 1 m 
diameter at the very top of the rib-vault ceiling approximately 
30 m above the floor.

1930                       1962                       Changes in 1962

Bordun 16' . . . . . . . . Bordun 16'
Viola 8' . . . . . . . . . Viola 8'
Viola celeste 8' . . . . . Viola celeste 8'
Bordun 8'  . . . . . . . . Bordun 8'
Prinzipalflöte 4'. . . . . Prinzipalflöte 4'
Flageolett 2'. . . . . . . Flageolett 2'
Mixtur 2 2/3' 5 fag  . . . Mixtur 2 2/3' 5 fag
Trompete 8'. . . . . . . . Trompete 8'
Vox humana 8'. . . . . . . Vox humana 8'
Pedalbordun 16'. . . . . . Pedalbordun 16'
(Transm. Bordun 16')       (Transm. Bordun 16')

PEDAL

1930 . . . . . . . . . . . 1962  . . . . . . . . . . Changes in 1962

 98 Subbordun 32'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
    (Ausbau 12 Pf. No.105)
 99 Contra Violon 32'. . . Contra-Violone 32'
100 Majorbass 16'. . . . . Majorbass 16'
101 Principalbass 16' No.1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
102 Principalbass 16' No.2 Principalbass 16' No.2
103 Kontrabass 16' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
104 Harmonicabass 16'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
105 Subbass 16'. . . . . . Subbass 16'
106 Bordun 16' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
    (Transm.No.2)
107 Salicional 16' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
    (Transm.No.28)
108 Quintbass 10 2/3'. . . Quintbass 10 2/3'
109 Octavbass 8' . . . . . Octavbass 8'
110 Principal 8' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
    (Transm.No.5)
111 Violoncello 8' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
112 Dulciana 8'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
    (Transm.No.31)
113 Rohrflöte 8' . . . . . Röhrflöite 8'
114 Flötbass 8'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
115 Quinte 5 1/3'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
116 Octav 4' . . . . . . . Oktav 4'
117 Bachflöte 4' . . . . . Bachflöte 4'
118 Terz 3 1/5'. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
119 Waldflöte 2'           Waldflöte 2'
120 Mixtur 5 1/3' 5 fach . Mixtur 5 1/3' 5 fag
121 Pedalkornett . . . . . Pedalcornet 
    2 2/3' 5 fach          2 2/3' 5 fag
122 Kontrabombarde 32' . . Kontrabombarde 32'
    (Ausbau 12 pf.No.123)  (Ausbau 12 pf.No.123)
123 Bombarde 16' . . . . . Bombarde 16'
124 Basstuba 16' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
    (Transm.No.94)
125 Fagott 16' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
    (Transm.No.46)
126 Rankett 16'. . . . . . Ranket 16'
    (Transm.No.89)         (Transm.No.89)
127 Trompete 8'. . . . . . Trompet 8'
128 Clarine 4' . . . . . . Clarin 4'
129 Glocken 26 Töne  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Removed
    (Transm.No.27)

COUPLERS, PLAYING AIDS AND ACCESSORIES

- Koppel:      II-I  III-I  IV-I  III-II  IV-II  
               I-Ped  II-Ped  III-Ped  IV-Ped

- Subkoppel:   II-I  III-I  IV-I  II  III-II   
               IV-II  III  IV-III  IV

- Oktavkoppel: II-Ped  III-Ped  II-I  III-I  IV-I
               II  III-II  IV-II  III  IV-III  IV

- Rückpositiv-I 
- Rückpositiv-II
- Rückpositiv-III
- Rückpositiv-Ped

- Tremolo:     I  II  Fernwerk  Fernverk: Tremolo ex (for Vox Humana)

- Combination action:
  8 general (hand or foot)
  5 I
  5 II
  5 III (Choir organ)
  4 Rückpositiv
  4 Solo
  3 Fernwerk
  8 Pedal (1-4 hand or foot; 5-8 foot)
  Separate annullator (0) for each werk and for the couplers 

- Subkoppel ex (Man)
- Oktavkoppel ex (Man)
- Solo IV-I (reversible)

- Pedal couplers ex (foot)
- 16' ex Man. (on/off)
- Reeds ex (on/off)
- Pedal stops ex (foot)
- Bombarde 32' (reversible, foot)

- Tutti (reversible, foot)
- Generaltutti (reversible, foot)

- Annulator (00, foot)

- Couplers crescendo ex (on/off; foot)
- Pedal ex crescendo (on/off)

- Aut. Pedal (Pianopedal; corresponding to pedal 
  combination 1-4
- Ped. I
- Ped. II
- Ped. III
- Ped. IV

- 4 Swell pedals:
  II
  III/Master Swell (acting on all enclosed dept's simultaneously)
  IV: Solo/fernwerk
  Crescendo

- Fernwerk in (i.e. switch man. IV between Solo and Fernwerk)

- Choir organ in (all ranks in choir organ are playable from Man. III
  and Pedal of main console. A separate set of stop tablets has been
  installed for this purpose.)

- Aut. pedal in

- Master swell in (The Master Swell function was removed in 1962.)

- Indicator lights: Crescendo
                    Tutti
                    Generaltutti
                    Aut. Pedal 1-4

- Indicators: Crescendo  Voltmeter

Manual compass C - c''''
Pedal compass C - g'

DISPOSITION OF CHOIR ORGAN (1965)

Most of the ranks from the swell department that was removed in 1962 were used to build a separate Choir organ for congregational accompaniment in the chancel. This part of the organ is located in the southern chancel triforium, with a console on the chancel floor. The main and the chancel organs are connected by means of electrical cables.

Unless otherwise indicated, ranks are taken from Man. III of the original (1930) organ. Stop names as inscribed on stop tablets. 

MANUAL I

1 Rohrflöte 16'
2 Principal major 8'
3 Wienerflöte 8'
4 Silbermann-Gamba 8'
5 Oktave 4' (new)
6 Flute harm. 4'
7 Piccolo 2'
8 Plein jeu 2 2/3' 6 f. (new)
9 Orchester-Oboe 8'

MANUAL II

13 Principal minor 8'
14 Bordun 8'
15 Aeoline 8'
16 Vox Celeste 8'
17 Praestant 4'
18 Kleingedeckt 4'
19 Kvint 2 2/3'
20 Oktave 2' (new)
21 Terz 1 3/5'
22 Cornett 2 2/3' 3-4 f.
23 Vox humana 8'

PEDAL

25 Nachthorn 16' - Unit
26 Nachthorn 8' - Unit
27 Nachthorn 4' - Unit
28 Geigenprincipal 16' - Unit
29 Geigenprincipal 8' - Unit
30 Geigenprincipal 4' - Unit
31 Dulcian 16' - Unit (new)
32 Dulcian 8' - Unit
32 Dulcian 4' - Unit

COUPLERS, PLAYING AIDS AND ACCESSORIES

- Koppel:      II-I  I-Ped  II-Ped (all hand or foot)
- Subkoppel:   II-I (hand or foot)
- Superkoppel: II-I (hand or foot)

- Tremolo: II  Fernwerk

- 3 free combinations (hand or foot)
  (In this type of combination action separate sets of miniature 
  stop-knobs over or under each stop tablet are activated by buttons
  or foot pistons.)

- Hand registers out (separate for each free combination)

- Tutti choir organ
- Forte main organ 
- Tutti Fernwerk

- Hand registers out

- Main organ in (The main organ is playable from man. I and 
  pedal of choir organ console, but only a preset Forte plenum 
  is available.

- Fernwerk in (The Fernwerk is playable from Man. II and pedal
  of Choir organ console.

- 1 Swell pedal: Fernwerk

- Separate annullators for Dulcian 16', Dulcian 8', Dulcian 4',
  Orchesteroboe 8', Vox humana 8' (Choir organ), Trompete 8',
  Vox humana 8' (Fernwerk).

- Indicator: Voltmeter

Manual compass: C - c''''
Pedal compass:  C - g'

ORGAN LOCATIONS:

The Nidaros Cathedral is a part romanesqe (transepts and chapter house), but mainly gothic basilica. Building commenced AD 1070 at the burial site of St. Olav Haraldsson, and his remains were shrined on the main altar throughout the mediaeval era. After the reformation, the nave was damaged and a wall built at the present site of the so-called cross altar (see drawing below). This wall was taken down and the nave re-erected during the main restoration works, starting in 1869.

"ASCII-art" approximate plan of Nidaros Cathedral:

e = entrances               +e+
* = columns             +---+ +---+
Total length ca. 100m   |         |----+    +----------+ 
Transept width ca. 10m  |    6      7  |    |      *    \
+----+                  |              |    e   12 *    /
|  1 |                  |         |----+    +-------+  + 
|    |                  |         |                  \  \__  
|    +-------ee---------+         +-------ee--------+ +    +
e                                                   |/      \
|  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *         *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  \
|                                                   *      *  +-+
e          3            4    5           10             11      |
|                                                   *      *  +-+
|  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *         *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  /
e                                                   |\      e
|    +----ee------------+         +--------+ee+-----+ +----+
|    |                  |         |        +  +
|  2 |                  |         |----+
+----+                  |              | W.Front outside width ca.40m
                        |    8      9  | Nave inter-column width ca.10m
Nave width ca. 22m      |         |----+ Nave length ca.40m 
                        +---------+
1 Northern West Front Tower     7  Lectorium; Women's Memorial Chapel
2 Southern West Front Tower     8  South Transept
3 Nave                          9  Chapel of St. John
4 Location of Cross Altar       10 Chancel
5 Main Tower                    11 Location of High Altar
6 North Transept                12 Chapter House
Same plan as above, showing locations of 1930 Steinmeyer Organ; pesent location of 1739/1994 Wagner organ is also shown (The Wagner organ was placed in storage in 1930 when the Steinmeyer organ was installed, but was restored in 1994 by Ju"rgen Ahrend): 
                            +e+
                        +---+ +---+
                        | 8888888 |----+    +----------+ 
                        |              |    |      *    \
+----+                  |              |    e      *    /
|    |                  |111111111|----+    +-------+  + 
|    |                  |111111111|                  \  \__  
|    +-------ee---------+111111111+-------ee--------+ +    +
e    555555              111111111                  |/      \
|  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *11FRONT11*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  \
|33333                                              *      *  +-+
e33333                       2                                  |
|33333                                              *      *  +-+
|  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *         *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  /
e    444444                                 666666 7|\      e
|    +----ee------------+         +--------+ee+-----+ +----+
|    |                  |         |        +  +
|    |                  |         |----+
+----+                  |              | 
                        |              | 
                        |         |----+ 
                        +---------+
1 Main organ on large gallery, 1930. Removed from this location 1962.
2 Fernwerk in main tower, about 30 m above floor, 1930
3 Hauptwerk, Pedal, and Rückpositiv divisions and main 
  4-manual console on gallery, 1962
4 Swellwerk (man. II) in triforium, 1962
5 Solo in triforium, 1962
6 Choir organ in triforium, 1965
7 Choir organ 2-manual console on church floor, 1965
8 Wagner organ on gallery, 1994
[NTNU Pipe Organ Pages]
Compiled and translated by Kyrre Svarva. Thanks to Bjørn Kåre Moe, on whose articles most of this presentation is based. Pictures will be added later.
Last updated 19. September 1997.