A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Robin Adair
ROBIN ADAIR or EILEEN AROON. This air first became popular in England in the second half of the last century, through the eminent Italian singer Tenducci. He was one of the original singers in Arne's opera of 'Artaxerxes,' produced in 1762, and was afterwards engaged by Dr. Arne to accompany him to Ireland, where he probably learnt this song. It is certain that he sang 'Eileen Aroon' in the Irish language, the words being written out phonetically for him. He sang also at Ranelagh Gardens, and an edition with the Irish words 'sung by Signor Tenducci,' was published in London with music on a half sheet. In Ireland he had drawn especial attention to the air, and among the English-speaking part of the population several songs of local interest were written to it, making Robin Adair the burthen. For these, which do not in any way concern the tune, the curious are referred to the indexes to the 3rd, 4th, and 5th series of 'Notes and Queries.' It is here sufficient to show by the correspondence between the poet Burns and George Thomson, that the air was known as 'Robin Adair' before Braham reintroduced it here. In the published correspondence between Thomson the music publisher, for whom Haydn and Beethoven both harmonized Scotch airs, and Burns, Thomson, writing in August, 1793, says, 'I shall be glad to see you give Robin Adair a Scottish dress. Peter [Pindar] is furnishing him with an English suit for a change, and you are well matched together. Robin's air is excellent, though he certainly has an out-of-the-way measure as ever poor Parnassian wight was plagued with.' To this Burns answered in the same month: 'I have tried my hand on "Robin Adair," and, you will probably think with little success; but it is such a cursed, cramp, out-of-the-way measure, that I despair of doing anything better to it.' He then sends 'Phillis the fair,' and, a few days later, writes again, 'That crinkum-crankum tune, "Robin Adair," has been running in my head, and I succeeded so ill on my last attempt, that I have ventured, in this morning's walk, one essay more.' He then encloses 'Had I a cave.'
It is difficult to tell who wrote the words of the present song of Robin Adair. The name of the author is not upon the original title-page. Peter Pindar's songs (Dr. John Wolcott's) are not included in his collected works, being then the copyright of Messrs Goulding & D'Almaine, who bought all for an annuity of £250, and, as Peter was christened in 1738 and died in 1819, it was a dear bargain. The popularity of Robin Adair dates from Braham's benefit at the Lyceum Theatre on December 17, 1811. He then sang the air with great applause, but as the vowels are long in 'Eileen,' and short in 'Robin,' he introduced the acciaccatura, which Dr. Burney calls the Scotch snap.' The change will be more intelligible in notes than in description. Thus:—
We give the line in its accurate transliteration, as kindly supplied by Dr. P. W. Joyce, the eminent Irish collector:—
Tioch-faidh nó'n bhfan faidh tu, Eibhlin a rutin?