Career Ole_Bull

1 career

1.1 ole bull colony
1.2 family life
1.3 later years

career

violinist , composer ole bull



ole bull performing



statue of ole bull in bergen

after living while in germany, pretended study law, went paris fared badly year or two. in 1832 in paris shared rooms moravian violin virtuoso heinrich wilhelm ernst. successful in becoming high-level virtuoso, giving thousands of concerts. in england alone these included 274 in 1837, during visit travelled of more remote parts of britain. bull became famous , made huge fortune. believed have composed more 70 works, 10 known today. best known sæterjentens søndag (the dairymaid s sunday). clever luthier, after studies in paris jean-baptiste vuillaume. collected many beautiful violins , violas of amati, gasparo da salò, guarneri, stradivari , others. owner of 1 of finest violins of world, made gasparo da salò 1574 ferdinand ii, archduke of austria. played guarneri del gesù. violin, gift of widow bull s birthplace, in bergen vestlandske kustindustrimuseum. commercial signature line of ole bull violins manufactured in germany.

bull caught in rising tide of norwegian romantic nationalism, , acclaimed idea of norway sovereign state, separate sweden—which became reality in 1905. in 1850, co-founded first theater in actors spoke norwegian rather danish, namely det norske theater in bergen—which later became den nationale scene.

in summer of 1858, bull met 15-year-old edvard grieg. bull friend of grieg family, since ole bull s brother married sister of grieg s mother. bull noticed edvard s talent , persuaded parents send him further develop talents @ leipzig conservatory.

robert schumann once wrote bull among greatest of all, , on level niccolò paganini speed , clarity of playing. bull friend of franz liszt , played him on several occasions.

ole bull colony

bull visited united states several times , met great success. in 1852, obtained large tract of land in pennsylvania , founded colony called new norway, commonly referred ole bull colony. on 24 may 1852, formally purchased 11,144 acres (45 km) $10,388. land consisted of 4 communities: new bergen, known carter camp; oleana, named after him , mother, 6 miles (10 km) south of new bergen; new norway, 1 mile south of new bergen; , valhalla in kettle creek area.

bull called highest point in valhalla, nordjenskald, became location of unfinished castle. gave on venture, there scarcely land till, , went giving concerts.

today site location of ole bull state park, 132-acre (53 ha) state park in stewardson township, potter county, pennsylvania. norwegian citizens paid construction of monument on site honor ole bull. statue placed in park on 150th anniversary of new norway in 2002.

family life

in 1836, bull married alexandrine félicie villeminot. had 6 children, 2 of whom survived him. alexandrine died in 1862. children were:

ole storm felix bull (1837-9)
alexander ole felix etienne bull (1839–1914)
thorvald bull (1841–1862)
eleonore felicie bull (1843–1923)
ernst bornemann bull (1844; lived 5 months)
lucie edvardine bull (1846–1868)


ironwell, summer residence @ west lebanon, maine purchased in 1871



grave of ole bull

in 1868 bull met sara chapman thorp (1850–1911), daughter of prosperous lumber merchant eau claire, wisconsin. on return visit in 1870 (and despite age difference; 60, 20), bull began courtship, , couple secretly married in norway in june 1870, formal wedding in madison later year. had 1 daughter, olea (1871–1913). in 1871, bought summer home on rise in west lebanon, maine named ironwell. sara traveled bull remainder of career, accompanying him on piano. in 1883 published memoir of bull s life.

ole bull villa @ valestrandsfossen



ole bull villa @ lysøen


later years

ole bull bought island of lysøen in os, south of bergen, in 1872. hired architect conrad fredrik von der lippe (1833-1901) design residence on island. bull died cancer in home on lysøen on 17 august 1880. had held last concert in chicago same year, despite illness. testament fame funeral procession, perhaps spectacular in norway s history. ship transporting body guided 15 steamers , large number of smaller vessels.