A Lucky Duck..1903..Howard Whitney

[Steve Harrison]

Here's my take on this which I took from the piano score. I mixed and matched the bass and treble clefs in some of the bars. I'm pretty hard of hearing and my hearing aids didn't like the frequency of the recording so I couldn't make out most of it. I've sent my effort to Ian and should be in the library in due course...Steve

[Richard William Ineson]

Here is Howard Whitney's Mosquito's Parade, this version arranged by Lansing, was published by Witmark in 'English Notation' in 1901. Gordon Dando used to play this one, it's a catchy tune which  is a close cousin to 'A Lucky Duck'

[Steve Harrison]

Hi Richard, I did an arrangement of Mosquito's Parade some time back and you'll find it in the library..Steve.

Richard William Ineson said:

[Richard William Ineson]

Richard William Ineson said:

Here is Howard Whitney's Mosquito's Parade, this version arranged by Lansing, was published by Witmark in 'English Notation' in 1901. Gordon Dando used to play this one, it's a catchy tune which  is a close cousin to 'A Lucky Duck'

[Trapdoor2]

I have "The Mosquito's Parade" arranged for banjo by Robert Mahood, copyright 1900 by Witmark & Sons. Has 1st, 2nd and Piano. I'll submit it to Ian for inclusion into the Library. 

[Richard William Ineson]

Thats' good, the more the merrier, as they say. I thought that the Lansing arrangement was interesting with the 'English notation' designation and also the trio being arranged in different octaves. It's a catchy tune and easy to play.

Trapdoor2 said:

I have "The Mosquito's Parade" arranged for banjo by Robert Mahood, copyright 1900 by Witmark & Sons. Has 1st, 2nd and Piano. I'll submit it to Ian for inclusion into the Library. 

[Brett Lowe]

Hello all,

And thanks for the music - this is one I've wanted to play for a while.  I believe Howard Whitney was based in Melbourne, Australia (some sources say he was an Australian others claim he was an American Composer but give no reference for where he came from in the US) and wrote Mosquito's Parade for a Revue there.  Somehow the music for it came to the attention of publishers in the USA and it became a hit.  I have multiple copies of the piano score for another tune of his called Frog Puddles which features a frog on the cover playing a banjo.  I sometimes play it on banjo - just off the piano score.  So maybe should write up an arrangement (unless some one already has one).  It was still in print here in NZ in the 1950s.

https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-164444986/view?partId=nla.obj-164444993

Brett Lowe 

[Joel Hooks]

Thanks for the arrangement Steve!  I'll give her a read through.

And thanks Richard for Mosquito's Parade!

[Trapdoor2]

Now we have three arrangements of Mosquito's Parade to mess around with: Lansing, Mahood and Harrison. You're in fine company Steve!

[Shawn McSweeny]

Here's more Whitney whimsy :

"The Donkey Laugh" published by M. Witmark & Sons in 1901.

Ossman recorded "The Donkey's Laugh" for Victor in 1902  and "Donkey Laugh" for Zonophone around the same time. No recordings seem to have survived, but presumably both are slightly mis-titled versions of Whitney's "Donkey", which we know Ossman was performing publicly around this time. In May 1902 he directed a program at the Harlem Casino where the closing number was Whitney's "Donkey" performed by all banjoists present, including himself, Harry Six, Fred Van Eps and Bill Bowen. 

It is hard to imagine Ossman was recording Morley's "Donkey Laugh" in 1902, as it does not appear on his programs at this time, and was not published until around 1923.

Attached are a banjo arrangement from Whitney's piano score (dots and TAB) and digital playback of the score.

[Steve Harrison]

Thanks Joel and Marc, I've kept my arrangement as simple as is possible....Steve.

Joel Hooks said:

Thanks for the arrangement Steve!  I'll give her a read through.

And thanks Richard for Mosquito's Parade!

[Joel Hooks]

Morley's "Donkey Laugh" was released for sale on November 15, 1923, along with "Georgia Medley", "The Minstrel Man" (Grimshsaw), and "In Lantern Light" (Marshall).