Bull, Ole, 1810-1880

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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)

Norwegian violinist and composer.

From the description of Autograph letter signed, dated : Dessau, 29 May 1865, to [Theodor] Schneider, 1865 May 29. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270673883

From the description of Ole Bull papers, 1834-1906 (inclusive). (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 702194385

From the description of Autograph letter signed, dated : New York, 14 February 1869, to an unidentified recipient, 1869 Feb. 14. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270673887

From the description of Ole Bull papers, 1834-1906 (inclusive) [microform]. (Yale University). WorldCat record id: 82498131

From the description of "Capriccio a Violino solo" : autograph manuscript, 1859 Feb. 17. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270941805

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Barton, Albert O. (Albert Olaus). Albert O. Barton papers, 1858-1948. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Bull, Ole, 1810-1880. Autograph letter signed, dated : New York, 14 February 1869, to an unidentified recipient, 1869 Feb. 14. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Emma Thursby Papers, 1706-1940 (Bulk 1860-1940) New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Museum donor information, 1921-1959. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Bull, Sara Chapman Thorp, 1850-1911. Papers, 1830-1910 (bulk 1880-1910). Cambridge Historical Society
referencedIn Ole Bull collection, [19--?-ongoing]. Museum of Performance & Design
referencedIn New Haven Concert Programs, 1824-1859 Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
creatorOf Bull, Ole, 1810-1880. Ole Bull papers, 1834-1906 (inclusive) [microform]. Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn Letters to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1761-1904 (inclusive), 1820-1888 (bulk) Houghton Library
referencedIn Nicolas Slonimsky Collection, 1873-1997, (bulk 1920-1990) Library of Congress. Music Division
creatorOf Dorilus Morrison and family papers, 1706-1913. Minnesota Historical Society Library
referencedIn Child, Lydia Maria, 1802-1880. Letters, 1845-1860. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
referencedIn New Haven concert programs, 1824-1859 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn RCA Corporation. Office of Company Historian. Files of B.L. Aldridge, 1897-1980. Hagley Museum & Library
referencedIn Child, Lydia Maria, 1802-1880. Papers of Lydia Maria Francis Child [manuscript], 1844-1877. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Bull, Ole, 1810-1880. Autograph letter signed, dated : Dessau, 29 May 1865, to [Theodor] Schneider, 1865 May 29. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Collection of entrance tickets, Boston, ca. 1850-1902. Boston Athenaeum
creatorOf Bull, Ole, 1810-1880. "Capriccio a Violino solo" : autograph manuscript, 1859 Feb. 17. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Cartes-de-visite album and biographies, ca. 1875-1876. University of Virginia. Library
creatorOf Bull, Ole, 1810-1880. [Letter. 18-- Maine? to] Mrs. [R.O.] Doremus / Ole Bull. Peabody Conservatory, Arthur Friedheim Library
referencedIn Stockhausen, Julius, 1826-1906. Autograph letter signed, dated : Hamburg Jan. 7 1869, to [Bartolf Wilhelm Senff?], 1869 Jan. 7. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Anka, Paul. Musicians Collection, 1727-1981, (bulk 1900-1940). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Jascha Heifetz Collection, 1802-1987, (bulk 1911-1974) Library of Congress. Music Division
referencedIn Ole Bull childhood places in Norway photographs, ca. 1870. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Thursby, Emma Cecilia, 1845-1931. Emma Thursby papers, 1706-1940 (bulk 1880-1920). Churchill County Museum
referencedIn Moore, Aubertine Woodward, 1841-1929. Papers, 1781-1928. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Bull, Ole, 1810-1880. Ole Bull papers, 1834-1906 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn New Haven concert programs, 1824-1859 (inclusive). Yale University, Music Library
referencedIn Thorp, Joseph G., Jr. Letters, 1869-1879. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Photographs of musicians, composers, and singers, 1862-1948. Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University
referencedIn Anderson, Rasmus Björn, 1846-1936. Scrapbooks 1868-1929. Wisconsin historical society
creatorOf Bull, Ole, 1810-1880. Letter, 1872. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Musicians Collection TXRC99-A17., 1727-1981, (bulk 1900-1940) Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Shelley, Albertus. Papers, 1882-1905. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Moldenhauer Archives at the Library of Congress, circa 1000-circa 1990 Library of Congress. Music Division
creatorOf The Ole Bull Papers, 1834-1906 Irving S. Gilmore Music Library
referencedIn Child, Lydia Maria, 1802-1880. Letters, 1845-1880. American Antiquarian Society
referencedIn Brainard, Charles Henry, 1817-1885. Papers, 1795-1884 and undated Houghton Library
creatorOf Bull, Ole, 1810-1880. Letter [n.d., n.p.], to "Dear Friend" [i.e. G. Ticknor?, n.p.]. Dartmouth College Library
referencedIn Riggs Family Papers, 1763-1945 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Elpern, Beth S. The way it was radio broadcasts, 1969. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Howells, William Dean, 1837-1920. Papers of William Dean Howells [manuscript], 1866-1919. University of Virginia. Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Anderson, Rasmus Björn, 1846-1936. person
associatedWith Barton, Albert O. (Albert Olaus) person
associatedWith Bey, Iuppa. person
correspondedWith Brainard, Charles Henry, 1817-1885 person
associatedWith Bull, Sara Chapman Thorp, 1850-1911. person
associatedWith Child, Lydia Maria, 1802-1880. person
associatedWith Ciampi, Vincenzo Legrenzio, 1719-1762 person
associatedWith Doremus, F. Ogden, Mrs. person
associatedWith Egeberg, Fredrikke. person
associatedWith Elpern, Beth S. person
associatedWith Emma Thursby person
associatedWith Gounod, Charles, 1818-1893 person
associatedWith Grieg, Edvard, 1843-1907 person
associatedWith Habeneck, François Antoine, 1781-1849 person
associatedWith Heifetz, Jascha, 1901-1987 person
associatedWith Howells, William Dean, 1837-1920. person
associatedWith Kohne, Ridley. person
associatedWith Kohne, Ridley. person
associatedWith Lofthus, Olav. person
correspondedWith Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth, 1807-1882 person
associatedWith Martinez, Isidora. person
associatedWith Mary Flagler Cary Music Collection (Pierpont Morgan Library) corporateBody
associatedWith Moldenhauer, Hans. person
associatedWith Moore, Aubertine Woodward, 1841-1929. person
associatedWith Morrison, Dorilus, 1814-1897. person
associatedWith Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus, 1756-1791 person
associatedWith Nardini, Pietro, 1722-1793 person
associatedWith Ochs, Siegfried. person
associatedWith RCA Corporation. Office of Company Historian. corporateBody
correspondedWith Riggs family family
associatedWith Schneider, Theodor, 1827-1909, person
associatedWith Shelley, Albertus. person
associatedWith Slonimsky, Nicolas, 1894-1995 person
associatedWith Stockhausen, Julius, 1826-1906. person
associatedWith Tartini, Giuseppe, 1692-1770 person
associatedWith Thorp, Joseph G., Jr. person
associatedWith Thursby, Emma Cecilia, 1845-1931. person
associatedWith Ticknor, George, 1791-1871. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
South Carolina--Charleston
South Carolina--Charleston
Norway
Norway
Subject
Musicians
Concerts
Muscians
Music
Music
Violin and piano music
Violinists
Violinists
Violin music
Violin with orchestra
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1810-02-05

Death 1880-08-17

Norwegians

Norwegian,

English

Information

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Ark ID: w6805fmn

SNAC ID: 19149260