The Nidaros Cathedral Wagner organ

Specifications:

Compass: Manuals C, D to c''' (48 notes); pedal C, D to d' (27 notes)
Wind pressure: 85 mm WS
Temperament: Werckmeister III
Pitch: a = 453 at 17.5 degrees Centigrade

The organ has three wedge bellows, blown by an electric blower, or alternatively by manpower.

Notes:

The history of the Wagner organ after its installation in the Nidaros Cathedral:

In 1860-61, the instrument was given a major overhaul by the Norwegian organ builder Claus Jensen. The voicing was altered, and the original manuals and pedals were replaced. Jensen installed a new division as manual I; thus the original manuals I and II now became manuals II and III. The added division had the following disposition:

• Gamba 8'
• Gedackt 8'
• Bassflöite 8'
• Flute douce 4'
• Valdflöite 4'
• Klarinett 8'

In 1891 the pitch was taken down one half note from the baroque pitch to the standard "concert pitch" by shifting the pipes one place up and cutting a bit off the top of each pipe. As a consequence the C was now silent in the manuals, however in the pedal ranks pipes were added to compensate.

In 1914 the division added by Jensen as manual I were enclosed in a "crescendo cabinet", i.e. a swell case.

In 1923 an electric blower must have been installed, since from this time on no records remain of wages paid for pumping.

On occasion of the 900th anniversary of the battle at Stiklestad, and the death of king Olav Haraldsson, later named St. Olav, a large, new Steinmeyer organ was installed in the cathedral in 1930. At this time, the Wagner organ was taken down and stored in the cathedral's lofts and cellars, except for the façade, which was placed in front of the new Steinmeyer organ. There it remained until the Wagner organ was restored in 1994.

Following a long period of fund-raising, the organ has now been restored. This work was undertaken by the German organ builder Jürgen Ahrend, and was finished in december 1995. The goal was - as closely as possible - to restore the organ to its original state. The extra manual and the ranks added by Jensen were taken away entirely.

At the start of the restoration about 2000 different parts were found in various locations in the Cathedral, generally in a miserable condition. Out of a total of 1827 pipes, 1018 were found more or less intact - many were flattened, bent etc. due to poor storing conditions, and all the open pipes had been cut at the upper end (by Jensen in 1891, as already mentioned). All six original windchests were present, but in poor condition. Over the years, organ builders had attempted to combat the cracks that had appeared due to variations in temperature and humidity, using literally thousands of nails.

On the whole, a surprisingly large number of parts were found in restorable condition, including most of the stop- and playing action, including trackers, roller-boards etc. It is particularly notable that the façade, includig the façade pipes, were in excellent condition, except for Jensen's pitch alterations. This good fortune is due to the fact that the façade never was placed in storage, but was used in front of the Steinmeyer organ when this was installed in 1930. The only part that had suffered was the bottom part of the façade, below the pipes, from which the top 30 cm was sawed off to attain the desired façade height for the Steinmeyer organ. This damage has now been restored by Ahrend.

On the 2nd of April 1995 the re-inauguration concert was held by the cathedral organist and director of music, Mr. Per Fridtjov Bonsaksen. This was part of a Baroque Organ Festival week with seminars and concerts by Mr. Bonsaksen as well as

• Professor Klaus Eichhorn (Akademie für Alte Musik, Bremen)
  
• Professor Harald Vogel (Westminster Choir College, Princeton; Hochschule für Musik und Theater, Hannover; Hochschule für Künste, Bremen)
  
• Professor Jon Laukvik (Staatliche Musikhochschule, Stuttgart)
  

Discography

1. J. S. Bach: Organ Works
   • Performed by Per Fridtjov Bonsaksen - Nidaros cathedral organist and director of music.
   • Recorded February 1995.
   • Vanguard Classics/99075.

2. Baroque organ music for Christmas
   • Works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Claude Balbastre, Dietrich Buxtehude, Georg Friedrich Kauffmann, Johann Pachelbel, Valentin Rathgeber, Samuel Scheidt and Johann Gottfried Walther.
   • Performed by Per Fridtjov Bonsaksen - Nidaros cathedral organist and director of music.
   • Recorded January 1997.
   • Vanguard Classics/99405.

3. Johann Daniel Berlin & Johann Heinrich Berlin
   • Performed by the Trondheim Soloists. Organist Erling With Aasgård.
   • The Wagner organ is played (solo) in 13 out of 27 selections.
   • Recorded February 1997.
   • Vanguard Classics/99404.

4. Fingergullofficiet/De Susceptione Sanguinis Cristii
   • Gregorian chant and organ improvisations performed by Schola Sanctae Sunnivae and organist Henning Sommerro.
   • The Wagner organ is heard, alone or accompanying Gregorian chant, in 6 out of 21 selections.
   • Recorded 1997.
   • Kirkelig Kulturverksted/FXCD 179.

5. Johann Sebastian Bach: Organ Works, vol. 3
   • Performed by the well-known Dutch organist Jacques van Oortmerssen as part of his J. S. Bach series.
   • Recorded 1997.
   • Vanguard Classics/99103.

6. Pathos und Freude - Orgelwerke von Johann Sebastian Bach
   • Performed by German organist Martin Sander
   • Recorded 1998.
   • Fermate/FER20028.

7. Organ Concert - Works by Bach, Händel, Vivaldi, Mozart and Beethoven
   • Performed by Harald Rise
   • Recorded 2000.
   • Sonor/SONCD6004.