The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1906-04-19
The Marietta journal
MARIETTA, GA, APRIL 10, 1905.
A FRIEND OF
OLE BULL.
Y. L. Freyer, Who Retired With For.
tune From the RiaRO Business
His Prinoely Estate
in Georgia.

Mr. John @. Freund. promoter, trav-
eler, and editor OF the Musical Courier
OF New York has the following article
in that excellent publication Of Mari
eta citizen:
Ole Bornemann Bull, the famous Nor
wegian violinist, made his last tour
through the United States in 1873.
The first and the last tima was priv
LEGGED to hear this picturesque artist
was in Columbia, &. c., the 18th OF Oc-
tober, in the year named. At the con-
cert l occupied a seat very near the
stage in Janney's Hall. which was the
only concert hall ia Columbia at that
time. Sitting next me was an enthusi-
astic gentlemen. who was so deeply i'm
pressed and go visibly affected by the
NOrwegian's performance that he could
not repress his ardor. He gave vent to
his emotions 10y the most vehement APP
plause. Evidently my companion was
an educated musician who oomprehen-
ded the niceties Of execution and APP
preciated the vital points of the various
pieces which we're played. During
short intermission ne who sat next me
introduced himself as r. L. Freyer,
who protested himself great admirer
and a personal friend of Ole Bull.
That was the first time 1 ever met F.
L. Freyer, whom in after years came
to know intimately. More than thirty
years have passed since that episode in
the Capital of the Palmetto State, but
still it is fresh in the memory of both
Mr.. Freyer aLd myself
When, only few years ago, was a
guest at his beautiful home in Mariet-
Ia, Ga, he was speaking of Ole Bull. /
recalled this incident, and Mr.. Freyer
said he remembered it perfectly.
''For many years, said he, 81 was an
ardent admirer and intimate friend of
Ole Bull. I had an Intense admiration
for his genius. In many respects he
was one of the most remarkable violin
lists who ever lived. Measured by the
strict classical standards, by which
such violinists as Spohr and Josehim
usually are measured, no doubt he
would fall short OF the very highest
place, which, however, he held in the
popular estimation. His style was
Enthusiastically Norwegian. 1t was
original and highly interesting. When
at his best Ole Buii possessed a flawless
information and played with a passion
which have never heard equaled. AS
the exponent of Paganini, he had few
equals in his time, and when he played
his own compositions, was incompara-
ble."
A violin bow which Old Bull used at
many of mis- concerts about half a CEN
tury ago was shown to me by Mr.,
Freyer, TO whom it had been presented
by the violinist This bow is nearly
three inches longer than the regulation
bows and much heavier than the violin
sticks commonly used by soloists to-
day. Picking up one OF his old violins,
Mr.. Freyer took this bow and gave an
exhibition of the Ole Bull staccato,
which few violinists have ever been
able to master. Although sadlysout of
practice, Mr.. Freyer gave an astonish-
ing performance of some of the show
pieces with which Old Bull was wont
to delight thousands.
F. L. Freyer, the gentleman of whom
am writing, was associated with mu-
sic and with the piano trade for nearly
seyenty-five years. A short time ago
ne formally retired from active BUSH
ness, leaving all of his interests in the
hands of his son, Charles Freyer. Mr..
Freysr was one OF tie pioneers among
the piano dealers in the Southern
States. Many years ago he was an itin-
Grant piano salesman in South Carolina
and Georgia, and in those days did
much violin playing In public. He was
an artist of rare merit and was won
deri1l sight reader. Even TO day he
can give on astonishing primA vista
performance.