Great Violinists and PianistsFerris, George T. (George Titus)
History
Great Violinists and Pianists
Ferris, George T. (George Titus)
Pianists -- Biography; Violinists -- Biography
For many recent years Ole Bull, when not engaged in concert-giving in
Europe or America, has resided at a charming country estate on one
of the little islands off the coast of Norway. His numerous farewell
concert tours are very well known to the public, and would have won
him ridicule, had not the genial presence and brilliant talents of the
Norwegian artist been always good for a renewed and no less cordial
welcome. He frequently referred to the United States in latter years as
the beloved land of his adoption. One striking proof of his preference
was, at all events, displayed in his marriage to an American lady, Miss
Thorpe, of Wisconsin, in 1870. One son was the fruit of this second
marriage, and Mr. and Mrs. Ole Bull divided their time between Norway
and the United States.
The magnificent presence of Ole Bull, as if of some grand old viking
stepped out of his armor and dressed in modern garb, made a most
picturesque personality. Those who have seen him can never forget him.
The great stature, the massive, stalwart form, as upright as a pine, the
white floating locks framing the ruddy face, full of strength and genial
humor, lit up by keen blue eyes--all these things made Ole Bull the most
striking man in _personnel_ among all the artists who have been familiar
to our public.
While Ole Bull will not be known in the history of art as a great
scientific musician, there can be no doubt that his place as a brilliant
and gifted solo player will stand among the very foremost. As a composer
he will probably be forgotten, for his compositions, which made up the
most of his concert programmes, were so radically interwoven with his
executive art as a virtuoso that the two can not be dissevered. No one,
unless he should be inspired by the same feelings which animated the
breast of Ole Bull, could ever evolve from his musical tone-pictures
of Scandinavian myth and folk-lore the weird fascination which his
bow struck from the strings. Ole Bull, like Paganini, laid no claim to
greatness in interpreting the violin classics. His peculiar title to
fame is that of being, aside from brilliancy as a violin virtuoso, the
musical exponent of his people and their traditions. He died at Bergen,
Norway, on August 18, 1880, in the seventy-first year of his age,
and his funeral services made one of the most august and imposing
ceremonials held for many a long year in Norway.
MUZIO CLEMENTI
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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