New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-08-19


the opinions which were general as to his rank
IN music have been modified since he first Dlazed
like meteor across the armament, thousands
eSpec tally among our older connosseurs will deeply
lament his departure, and long sadly or the sight
OF his calm, benevolent face and the sound of bis be-
wtchng instrument. Ole Bull never was an artist of
the true stamp there are many critics who never
recognized HIM as an artist at all and HIS later
years. as audiences grew more sophisticated and as
ms methods OF PLAYING became more fixed. the I'M
substantial character Of his fame became more and
more apparent. His celebrity rested upon GER
tam sensuous charm III tie tones evoked from his
violin. and On ex;raOrdnar dexterlty in the per
torrance Of very difficult tours de force triple stop
ping. etc He had moreover iondness for simple
sentimental effects which always touch the
fancy OF the public. But the gifts with
which he was SO richly endowed were
after all only a small part of the proper
equipment of an artist. The really great performer
Is he who PLAYS great musc-whether he interpret
the conceptions of another's genius or give utter
ance 10 the feelings Of his own grand soul. judged
by tins test. Ole Bulls title 10 lasting fame is
weak. de never showed any particular sympathy
with the great Of his art; and the strongest
OF his own music little more than a vague
mild. and rel cted romantcism. Nothing that he
leaves us VIII he remembered so long or fondlv
as his winning manners and hls gentle disposition.
HIS full name was Ole L, rnemann Bull. He was
born at Bergen, February 5, 1910. Several men-
bers of his family were noted for their taste
and knowledge in music, and his father IAN apOthe-
cary was somewhat famous amateur He has
told how he learned to play when he was lltte more
than an infant, and how he used to fall asleep in
vloloncello case while waiting TO take his part in
the family concerts. He played in public--with the
BERGEN Philharmonic SOcety-at the age of eight.
AT nine he was intTusted with the first violin desk
in a performance of Beethoven symphony. He
was destined, however, for the church, and with
this profession in view he entered the
University OF Chrstianla Music probably
received more of his attention thaa the
studies of the prescribed curriculum; ana when
he discovered to be conducting the band OF
theatre during the illness of the leader. his con-
ncction with the University was brought TO an
abrupt close. He seems to have led toilsome and
rather desutOry life FOL while. In 500 he went
Casse to study with Sp0hr, but TINS eminent
viohnist and composer treated him so coldlv that
he threw down the fiddle. and became student OF
law at G6ftingen. The project listed only
little while, for IN 1881 find the you Norwe-
rian essaying concert tour without much success.
Ernst Chopin and Boucher gave HIN encourage
ment and friendly help, and PaGanInI was very kind
to hum. He has often been compared TO the
last named artist. but all popullr vIOlnsts what
ever their STYLE are absurdly enough compared to
Paganini. Ole Bull entirely unlike the mpas-
stoned Italian, can he have had many points OF
sympathy in musical matters with Ernst or Chopin.
Boucher however. was something like Ole Bull, ex-
cept that he less sincere. and the musical devil
ces TO which the Norwegian led 20 addict himself
by the bent-perhaps we should say the mutations
of his uature were practised by the Frenchman
as mere tricks 10 gain applause and money.
Ole Bull fed from Germany after killing man in
duel, and went to Paris. where. after
falling into dire distress be tried to kill himself.
Rescued from the water. he was befrended by
lady who saw in him a likeness to her deceased
son. She took him to her house, and gave him
money to arrange a concert. and with the proceeds
OF successful entertainment. where his Norwegian
folk melodies made pleasant impression, be went
to Italy. He has stated that his principal purpose
in this tour study the Italian art of construct
ing melody and what he learned at Milan. Flor
ence Naples Bologna, and so on. hid no doubt a
marked and permanent effect upon bis style.
HIS set compositions. and his improvisations.
as well az his renderngs OF other mems
music. were always distinguished by a truly Italian
grace of phrasing and of rhythmic regularity:
and he might have been prolific meodlSt If his
taste in the making of suave and delicate bits had
been accompanIed'by constructive power and the
habit Of sustained thought He went back to Paris
Thence after winning critical approval he visited
Germany. England and Russia; and he returned to
Norway at the age of twentY-elght, with lame, u
fortune and French wife.
His first tour in the United States begun at
the close of 1s43. A fury of enthusi-
asm attended him all over the country.
At Wash1n gton he was received by the
nrincipal officers of the Government with almost
Official honors. In company with Maurice Stra-
kosch and the little child phenomenon, Adeina
Patti he travelled extensively, and everywhere he
W az the hero of the day. Henri Vleuxtemps-a far
yreater artist than Ole Bull-was here ut the same
time. but the people would not listen to him. Joseph
Artot was also here in 1913 and ne too was
acIlpsed The boundless extravaganza ofthe pOpu-
lar adulatIon was not only absurd in itself,
but il was directed with such bad judg-
ment that il probably retarded the course
If musical culture 1t a long while be-
fore an eminent violnist ventured to test American
appreciation again Meanwhile Ole Bull recrossed
the Atlantic with q full and varied his mu-
steal tours OH the Continent with the most extraor-
binary medley of adventures He built theatre in
Bergen. and tried to make the drama an engine of
,olitIcal REFORM He came into collision with the
notice and figured as martyr to liberty. He tried
10 found schools OF literature and art IN bis native
country and to make improvements in musical in
,truments and he fought with the French against
Abd-el- X adler in Algeria, losing large part Of
bis fortune he once more to America. this time
As the founder of philanthrOpic enterprise rather
Than as a public performer. He bought 10000
,eres of wild land the headwaters of the Allie
zhany River, in Potter County, Northern Pennsy- /
vania. and there he founded Norwegian colony. |
number of families of his country people gathered
around him lands were sold to them at a nominal
price, and settlement was started under the name
Of Olcana. But the scheme soon feh through; the
title 90 the property proved bad the colonlstS dis
Dersed and ole Bull heavy loser. He re-
,umed bis concerts for a while and would soon |
have repaired his shattered estate had he not been
tempted IN an evil moment TO assume the director
-, OF hnllt Academy of Music In this |