Musician. He was hailed as one of the greatest violinists of his era. Born in Bergen, Norway, he was a musical prodigy and by age nine was playing first violin in the Bergen Theatre Orchestra. His father insisted that he become a lawyer, but after some half-hearted legal study he fled to Paris, where his performing debut in 1835 caused a sensation. Some critics compared him to the legendary violin virtuoso Niccolo Paganini. Bull wrote a number of compositions based on Norwegian folk music, including a Violin Concerto (1841) and the popular "Sunday of the Shepherdess" (1848), and he influenced many of Norway's musicians, notably composer Edvard Grieg. In 1852 Bull founded Oleana, a utopian Norwegian colony in northern Pennsylvania, which he hoped would become a great cultural center; but after a year of hardships the colony disbanded and most of the settlers went west to Michigan and Wisconsin. (The site of Oleana is now Ole Bull State Park). A decade later Bull's attempts to establish a National Conservatory of Music in Norway failed as well. At least his popularity as a performer never faded. He made concert tours of the United States every Winter for over 30 years, while spending his Summers at his estate on the island of Lysoen. He died at Lysoen at 70. Bull's funeral in Bergen marked a day of national mourning.
Musician. He was hailed as one of the greatest violinists of his era. Born in Bergen, Norway, he was a musical prodigy and by age nine was playing first violin in the Bergen Theatre Orchestra. His father insisted that he become a lawyer, but after some half-hearted legal study he fled to Paris, where his performing debut in 1835 caused a sensation. Some critics compared him to the legendary violin virtuoso Niccolo Paganini. Bull wrote a number of compositions based on Norwegian folk music, including a Violin Concerto (1841) and the popular "Sunday of the Shepherdess" (1848), and he influenced many of Norway's musicians, notably composer Edvard Grieg. In 1852 Bull founded Oleana, a utopian Norwegian colony in northern Pennsylvania, which he hoped would become a great cultural center; but after a year of hardships the colony disbanded and most of the settlers went west to Michigan and Wisconsin. (The site of Oleana is now Ole Bull State Park). A decade later Bull's attempts to establish a National Conservatory of Music in Norway failed as well. At least his popularity as a performer never faded. He made concert tours of the United States every Winter for over 30 years, while spending his Summers at his estate on the island of Lysoen. He died at Lysoen at 70. Bull's funeral in Bergen marked a day of national mourning.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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