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Trebhuinneach

from Edward Bunting, Ancient Music of Ireland (Dublin 1840)


Irish tríbhuinneach spoken by Gráinne Yeats
Scottish Gaelic trì-bhuinneach spoken by Tony Dilworth

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Trebhuinneach - Trebly rapid

On p.36 this term is explained as 'Prestissimo, trebly rapid', and Tribhuinneach as 'Exremely quick'. As in tríbhuilleach, the first part is unlikely to represent anything other than trí, 'three'. We may here have an adjectival compound from the noun buinne, 'a torrent, spout, rush' (usually of water), used metaphorically of music, giving us tríbhuinneach, 'three-torrented', used as a noun.

Colm Ó Baoill 2002