Bull, Ole, 1810-1880

Ole Bull was born in Bergen, Norway on February 5, 1810. From an early age he showed a rare talent for the violin, and he made his solo debut in 1819. He took lessons from students of Viotti and Baillot, and also learned much from traditional Norwegian fiddlers, an influence that contributed to his unique style. Bull was interested in the design and construction of violins and bows, and by using a flatter bridge and a rounded bow, he was able to produce unusual polyphonic effects. He made many European concert tours, and he also spent a considerable amount of time in the United States, as a violinist, impresario, and promoter of an ill-fated Norwegian colony in Pennsylvania. Bull was known for his virtuosic and idiosyncratic performances, his personal charisma, and his Norwegian nationalism. (Norway was under Swedish control from 1814 to 1905.) Ole Bull died in Lysøen, Norway on August 17, 1880.

From the guide to the The Ole Bull Papers, 1834-1906, (Irving S. Gilmore Music Library, Yale University)

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