Frederic Ranken

Frederic G. Ranken (c. 1869 – October 19, 1905, in Manhattan) was an American librettist, lyricist, and playwright for light operas and musicals staged on Broadway from 1899 through 1907. His greatest success was the libretto for Reginald De Koven's 1905 comic opera Happyland. He also wrote libretti for composers Victor Herbert and Ludwig Engländer, and was a lyricist for composers Alfred Baldwin Sloane and Gustave Kerker among others. As a playwright he wrote the books for several musicals.

Birth and Death Data: Died 1905

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1899 - 1914

Roles Represented in DAHR: lyricist

Notes: Author and musical comedy lyricist.

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Berliner 0743 7-in. 11/18/1899 I'd like it S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo lyricist  
Berliner 0747 7-in. 11/18/1899 Continuous performances S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo lyricist  
Berliner 0796 7-in. between November 1899 and January 1900 Fond love, true love Harry Macdonough Male vocal solo lyricist  
Berliner 01021 7-in. 2/27/1900 In old Ben Franklin's days S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]23 7-in. 6/6/1900 I'd like it S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]200 7-in. 9/15/1900 In old Ben Franklin's days S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]236 7-in. 10/13/1900 Cupid will guide George Schweinfest Flute solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1275 7-in. 2/20/1902 My Sambo S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1275 10-in. 2/20/1902 My Sambo S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix C-]1275 12-in. 6/10/1902 My Sambo S. H. Dudley Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3620 10-in. 12/5/1901 It seems like yesterday Louise Gunning Female vocal solo lyricist  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]3621 10-in. 12/5/1901 My low 'C' Joseph C. Miron Male vocal solo lyricist  
Victor B-12627 10-in. 11/19/1912 My Sambo Arthur Collins ; Fred Van Eps Male vocal solo, with banjo lyricist  
Columbia 875 7-in. approximately 1902 We're all good fellows Artists vary Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Columbia 875 10-in. between 1902 and 1908 We're all good fellows Dan W. Quinn Male vocal solo, with piano lyricist  
Edison 1060 10-in. May 1912 My Sambo Arthur Collins Baritone vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 1253 10-in. 9/18/1912 My Sambo Arthur Collins Male vocal solo, with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 2822 10-in. February 1914 Cupid's grammar Harvey Hindermyer ; Elizabeth Spencer Vocal duet (soprano and tenor), with orchestra lyricist  
Edison 3180 10-in. July 1914 or later Cupid's grammar Harvey Hindermyer ; Elizabeth Spencer Vocal duet (soprano and tenor), with orchestra lyricist  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Ranken, Frederic," accessed January 9, 2026, http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107765.

Ranken, Frederic. (2026). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved January 9, 2026, from http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107765.

"Ranken, Frederic." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2026. Web. 9 January 2026.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: http://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/107765

External Sources

IMSLP: Frederic Ranken

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Ranken, Frederic - https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/n97875508

Wikidata: Frederic Ranken - https://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q112429825

VIAF: https://viaf.org/viaf/130676196

Fast: https://id.worldcat.org/fast/407498 - https://id.worldcat.org/fast/407498

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