In preparing this memoir my aim has been to use incidents, criticisms,
and tributes which brought out characteristic traits, as recognized by
others as well as myself, and to supply only what was needed to make the
sequence clear. Many poems and tributes, and much musical criticism,
have been necessarily omitted for want of space. So far as possible,
writers have been credited when quoted, but I desire to make still
further acknowledgment to Wergeland, Winter Hjelm, Goldschmidt, Mr.
Henry Norman, and Professor R. B. Anderson, who prepared a sketch of
Norwegian history, which has been given in a more condensed form.
Ole Bull was in Sweden years ago when the “union mark” was adopted, for
use in the Norwegian and Swedish flags. He would himself never float any
but the pure Norwegian colors, and, from the first, was most earnest and
pronounced in his opinion that none but the naval and customs flags
should have the union mark, as the two countries were politically united
only in their relations to foreign powers. For years he was almost alone
in this feeling, but the subject has recently given rise to much debate,
and even heated controversy. I speak of this here, because a paragraph
relating to the matter was omitted by mistake from the body of the
book.
I cannot too warmly express my thanks for the help and encouragement
given by friends. It is in especial recognition of the careful interest
he has shown that I mention my obligation to Mr. Walter E. Colton. The
admiration for his work and original research, united to a great
personal regard and affection felt for him by my husband, made me desire
to place in his hands the “Violin Notes,” and it should be added that
Mr. Colton has filled out the Note on the varnish, as he alone could
have done. In Dr. Crosby’s unfinished paper the bow arm and hand were
not treated, and the Tartini letter is added because Ole Bull considered
it the best instruction ever offered for the use of the bow. Mr.
Fields’s tribute was sent from his sick–room, so constant and unfailing
was he ever in his thought of others. Members of my husband’s family
have given me anecdotes and helped to verify many incidents, and Mr.
Alexander Bull kindly placed at my disposal the correspondence of his
parents. To Mrs. Botta I owe the beautiful drawing made for her by Mr.
Darley, at the time of Ole Bull’s first visit to the United States. The
engraved portrait is by Mr. J. A. J. Wilcox, from a photograph by Mora,
taken in 1878. The illustrations for the “Violin Notes,” from
photographs by Mora, have necessarily lost in the reproduction something
of their original beauty of outline and form, but they serve well the
purpose for which they are inserted.
To all whose friendly services are mentioned in these pages, and to many
not named, I make my grateful acknowledgment; and also to Mr. W. J.
Rolfe, for kind assistance in seeing this memoir through the press.