BULL, OLE BORNEMANN (1810-188o), Norwegian violinist, was born in Bergen, Norway, on Feb. 5, 181o. He was sent to Christiania (now Oslo) to study theology, but his time was given instead to music and to political agitation. In 1829 he went to Cassel, on a visit to Spohr, who, however, gave him no encouragement. After a brief period of study at Gottingen and a visit to Norway during which he played at many concerts, he went to Paris. There he heard Paganini play and began a course of hard work in the hope of rivalling his virtuosity. Although he had been largely self-taught he acquired a wonderful technique and speedily achieved world-wide fame by his brilliant playing of his own pieces and arrangements. His first visit to the United States lasted from 1843 to 1845, and on his return to Norway he formed a scheme for the establishment of a Norse theatre in Bergen. This became an accomplished fact in 185o; but in con sequence of harassing business complications he went again to America. During this visit (1852-57) he bought 125,00o acres in Potter county (Penn.) , for a Norwegian colony, which was to have been called Oleana after his name, but his title turned out to be faulty and the troubles which resulted seriously affected his health. He died at Lyso, near Bergen, on August 17, 1880. Ole Bull never sought to play serious music, but he delighted all hearers by his brilliant rendering of the virtuoso works in which he excelled and also by his expressive playing of national airs.
See Sarah E. Bull, Ole Bull, a Memoir (1886) .