The romantic organ of Vår Frue (Our Lady) church in Trondheim was installed in 1922, built by the German organ building company W. Sauer, who at that time was one of the most prestigious organ building companies in Europe. The action was pneumatic, and the organ was placed behind the old façade, which was preserved by the Busch organ from 1770. The console was placed just in front of the facade, facing the church. The new organ was profiled in the taste of the time, with a warm and full-bodied sound, in the romantic spirit.
The distinctive identity of the organs within the romantic organ style lies in their symphonic and orchestral character, combined with solo flutes and string sounds. An important feature is also the French tendency that can be read in the organ disposition and heard in the sound. It can hardly be said to be surprising, considering that the firm's founder Wilhelm Sauer learned from the French organ builder Cavaillé-Coll.
In 1971, the organ was partially rebuilt by replacing the pneumatic action with an electric. Some of the 1922 voices were also replaced to give the organ a brighter sound, and the organ received a new console, placed at the front of the gallery.
In 2006/2007 the organ was restored by the german organ builder Christian Scheffler. Scheffler started his career at the company of W. Sauer, which still exists under the same name, and worked there until he started his own organ company in 1995. Scheffler has become one of the foremost experts in this organ type, and has been trusted restoration of many large, romantic organs from both Sauer and other organ building companies.
A reversal to the original disposition and sound aesthetics has been the essential guide for the restoration work of the organ of Vår Frue church. The organ has regained the pneumatic action, a new console in the style of Sauer, and 3 new stops has been added. The couplers and playing aids are in accordance with the practice of Sauer at the time the organ was built, and a computer-controlled combination system with approx. 12,000 combinations has been added.