Introduction: Why Sessions Play the Same Few Reels
Walk into any traditional Irish music session in Dublin, Boston, or Edinburgh, and you are highly likely to hear the same sequence of classic reels. Standards like Cooley's Reel, The Maid Behind The Bar, and Drowsy Maggie form the absolute bedrock of the shared session repertoire. These standard tunes are universally loved, highly ergonomic on instruments like the fiddle and simple-system wooden flute, and serve as an instant musical lingua franca.
However, the traditional archive is vast. Historical databases record thousands of distinct reels. Some of these tunes have been recorded multiple times by respected, master musicians on landmark albums, but remain completely absent from modern pub sessions. As players, we often get stuck in comfortable loops, perpetuating a small circle of popular tunes while leaving exceptional melodies neglected.
Using the statistical power of the **Trad Tune Explorer**, we set out to analyze the database to find the ultimate list of hidden gems. By examining thousands of commercial album tracks, public tunebooks, and community-submitted session sets, our analytics engine identified exactly 22 reels that fit the strict criteria of a "hidden gem"—outstanding, historically recorded tunes that are almost completely neglected by modern players in session repertoires.
Here is the statistical summary of the underrated reels discovered by our analytics tool:
- Top Hidden Gem: The Flower Of Magherally (26 commercial recordings, 0 session sets)
- Most Documented in Tunebooks: Paddy Cronin's (68 tunebook entries)
- Oldest Style Crossover: Sir Arthur Shaen (Early 18th-century Carolan composition)
Table of Contents
What is a Hidden Gem?
In plain terms, a "Hidden Gem" is a tune that shows a significant imbalance between its professional recording history and its modern community adoption. These are not obscure, unplayable tunes scribbled in the margins of a dusty 19th-century manuscript. Rather, they are high-quality, fully realized melodies that have been chosen, arranged, and recorded by professional recording artists on commercial albums.
A tune becomes a hidden gem when it has been vetted and performed by elite musicians, yet fails to transition into the common repertoire of the casual session circle. It represents an untapped resource—a melody of proven aesthetic quality that is ripe for rediscovery and study by session musicians looking to expand their repertoire.
How We Measured This
Rather than relying on subjective opinions about which reels are "underrated," this analysis uses the quantitative analytics engine of the **Trad Tune Explorer**. We calculated a composite score for each tune by comparing two opposing signals:
- The Quality Signal (Commercial Footprint): This is derived from the total count of commercial album tracks, the number of distinct artists who have recorded the tune, and its appearance in historical and modern tunebooks.
- The Exposure Signal (Community Adoption): This is measured by the number of active user bookmarks on the site and the frequency of the tune's appearance in community-submitted session sets.
By subtracting the exposure signal from the quality signal, we identify tunes with a massive gap between professional appreciation and community practice. A high hidden gem score highlights tunes that have been recorded dozens of times but are played in almost zero sessions.
Visualizing the Hidden Gem Paradox
& Artists
User Bookmarks
Tunes with this profile score the highest on our index, highlighting them as major candidates for session revival.
Top 22 Hidden Gem Reels
Below is the complete dataset of the 22 hidden gem reels identified by the Trad Tune Explorer, ordered by their Hidden Gem Score.
1. Flower Of Magherally, The
AdorianStatistical Summary: Recorded 26 times by 21 artists, but appears in only 2 bookmarks and 0 session sets. Evidence Level: strong.
Analysis: The Flower of Magherally is primarily known as a classic traditional Ulster ballad, set in County Down. Its gorgeous, flowing melody has been adapted by many musicians into a instrumental reel. Famous recordings include a vocal-driven version by Altan on their landmark album The Red Crow, as well as recordings by Kevin Conneff of The Chieftains and the Boys of the Lough.
Because it is highly associated with singing and ballad performance, instrumentalists in session circles rarely think to perform it as a standalone dance reel. Yet, the melody features a beautiful, rolling Adorian structure that lies naturally on fiddle strings and wooden flute holes, making it an exceptional option for set building.
2. Paddy Kelly's
GmajorStatistical Summary: Recorded 12 times by 12 artists, but appears in only 0 bookmarks and 1 session sets. Evidence Level: medium.
Analysis: Paddy Kelly was a legendary fiddler from East Galway, renowned for composing reels with long, winding lines, intricate phrasing, and rich modal shifts. This G major reel is a classic example of his compositional style. It has been recorded by high-profile traditional collaborations, including James Kelly, Paddy O'Brien, and Daithi Sproule on their album Traditional Music Of Ireland, and accordionist Joe Burke on Session with Four Champions.
Despite its high pedigree among professional musicians, it remains almost completely absent from the broader session repertoire, with only a single recorded session set. This suggests the tune is viewed as a specialized showpiece for advanced players rather than a shared session standard. Its beautiful flow is well worth the study for any intermediate fiddler.
3. Mother's
CmajorStatistical Summary: Recorded 10 times by 10 artists, but appears in only 0 bookmarks and 0 session sets. Evidence Level: medium.
Analysis: Mother's Reel is a rare and beautiful tune written in C major. In traditional Irish music, the keys of G major and D major dominate because of the physical layout of flutes, tin whistles, and pipes. C major requires altered fingerings and half-holing, which makes tunes in this key less popular in general pub circles.
However, 10 different professional artists have recorded the tune, proving its expressive quality. The key of C major offers a warm, mellow tone on the fiddle and concertina, providing a refreshing break from the bright, sharp keys that typically dominate a long night of session playing.
4. Charles Sutherland
FmajorStatistical Summary: Recorded 15 times by 11 artists, but appears in only 1 bookmarks and 0 session sets. Evidence Level: medium.
Analysis: Composed by the Scottish fiddler and composer J. Murdoch Henderson and named after a prominent contemporary player, Charles Sutherland is written in F major. The flat key structure makes it a favorite in Scottish and Cape Breton fiddle music, where the crisp tone of the flat notes is highly prized.
It has been recorded by Scottish fiddle master Aly Bain on Lonely Bird, Wendy MacIsaac on Timeline, and the prominent Irish harpist Laoise Kelly on Just Harp. While flutes and tin whistles struggle with F major, it is incredibly comfortable on fiddle, box, and harp, providing a bright, syncopated, and highly driving rhythm.
5. Curragh Of Kildare, The
DmajorStatistical Summary: Recorded 12 times by 11 artists, but appears in only 0 bookmarks and 1 session sets. Evidence Level: medium.
Analysis: The Curragh of Kildare is universally famous as a slow, haunting traditional love song, popularized by Christy Moore and Susan McKeown. Like The Flower of Magherally, the melody is sometimes adapted as a reel or march.
Because traditional musicians strongly associate this melody with Christy Moore's vocals and slow tempos, it is rarely played in instrumental sets. However, when played at an upbeat tempo, the melody transforms into a rolling, rhythmic D major reel that flows naturally.
6. Caoineadh Ui Neill
DmixolydianStatistical Summary: Recorded 14 times by 12 artists, but appears in only 1 bookmarks and 1 session sets. Evidence Level: medium.
Analysis: Translating to The Lament for O'Neill, this D mixolydian reel features a haunting, ancient flat-seventh scale. It has been recorded by Sliabh Luachra fiddle icon Denis Murphy on his classic album Music From Sliabh Luachra, piper Ronan Browne on The Wynd You Know, and harpist Grainne Hambly on Golden Lights And Green Shadows.
Its modal structure is deeply expressive, blending the line between a lament and a driving dance rhythm. Despite its high recording density among elite instrumentalists, it is rarely heard in public sessions, making it a stellar candidate for a group looking to build a unique set.
7. Arthur Muise
AmixolydianStatistical Summary: Recorded 11 times by 9 artists, but appears in only 1 bookmarks and 1 session sets. Evidence Level: medium.
Analysis: Composed by Cape Breton fiddle legend Jerry Holland in honor of his close friend and fellow fiddler Arthur Muise, this Amixolydian reel has the trademark drive and lift of Cape Breton music. Holland recorded it multiple times, including on A Session With Jerry Holland, and it was also covered by fiddle superstar Natalie MacMaster on No Boundaries.
While Cape Breton fiddle royalty has celebrated the tune, it is rarely played in Irish pub sessions. This highlights a geographic division in the traditional scene—Scottish and Cape Breton standard tunes are frequently recorded but struggle to transition into the Irish session core.
8. Way To Mull River, The
DmajorStatistical Summary: Recorded 10 times by 9 artists, but appears in only 0 bookmarks and 4 session sets. Evidence Level: medium.
Analysis: Composed by the famous Cape Breton fiddle composer Dan R. MacDonald, The Way to Mull River is a D major reel that features the syncopated and bouncy rhythms characteristic of the Mull River region of Nova Scotia. MacDonald wrote hundreds of tunes that remain highly influential.
It has been recorded by 9 distinct artists on various Cape Breton fiddle compilations. It features a bright, major melody with a strong forward momentum, making it highly danceable and satisfying to play.
9. Cross Of Inverness, The
GmajorStatistical Summary: Recorded 11 times by 11 artists, but appears in only 0 bookmarks and 3 session sets. Evidence Level: medium.
Analysis: Also known as The Inverness Lasses, this traditional Scottish reel in G major features a very bright, rhythmic structure. It has been recorded 11 times by 11 different artists, proving a high degree of independent discovery.
Despite its popularity in Scottish music collections, it remains rarely played in Irish session circles, with only 3 session sets recorded.
10. Clydesdale Lasses
DmajorStatistical Summary: Recorded 10 times by 9 artists, but appears in only 0 bookmarks and 1 session sets. Evidence Level: medium.
Analysis: A traditional Scottish reel in D major. It features a beautiful, rolling melody that fits the fiddle and flute perfectly. It is found in 20 different tunebooks but has only a single recorded session set.
11. Scolding Wife, The
DmajorStatistical Summary: Recorded 18 times by 16 artists, but appears in only 0 bookmarks and 5 session sets. Evidence Level: medium.
Analysis: The Scolding Wife is a traditional D major reel that has been documented in 62 different historic tunebooks. It has been recorded 18 times by 16 different artists, yet it remains rarely played in live sessions.
12. Grey Bob, The
AmixolydianStatistical Summary: Recorded 13 times by 10 artists, but appears in only 0 bookmarks and 1 session sets. Evidence Level: medium.
Analysis: The Grey Bob is an Amixolydian reel with a very old-fashioned, modal character. It is documented in 27 historic tunebooks and recorded 13 times by 10 different artists, showing its high appeal to recording musicians.
13. Eddie Moloney's
GmajorStatistical Summary: Recorded 13 times by 11 artists, but appears in only 0 bookmarks and 1 session sets. Evidence Level: medium.
Analysis: Eddie Moloney was a legendary flute player from Galway, associated with a smooth, flowing Galway style. This G major reel features smooth, scalar passages that lie beautifully under the fingers.
14. You And I
GdorianStatistical Summary: Recorded 13 times by 11 artists, but appears in only 1 bookmarks and 4 session sets. Evidence Level: medium.
Analysis: You and I is a G dorian reel, giving it a rich, minor-sounding character. It has been recorded by 11 different artists, yet it remains very rare in sessions (only 4 sets).
15. White Crow, The
CmajorStatistical Summary: Recorded 10 times by 9 artists, but appears in only 0 bookmarks and 5 session sets. Evidence Level: medium.
Analysis: Composed by the legendary Sligo fiddler and composer Tommy Peoples, The White Crow is written in C major. Peoples was known for his unique, highly ornamented style. This tune has been recorded 10 times by 9 artists but has only 5 session sets.
16. Youghal Quay
GmajorStatistical Summary: Recorded 12 times by 12 artists, but appears in only 0 bookmarks and 5 session sets. Evidence Level: medium.
Analysis: Named after the famous coastal town in County Cork, Youghal Quay is a G major reel recorded 12 times by 12 different artists. This high artist count shows a strong degree of independent discovery.
17. Smith Of Chilliechassie, The
AmixolydianStatistical Summary: Recorded 15 times by 10 artists, but appears in only 1 bookmarks and 1 session sets. Evidence Level: medium.
Analysis: A Scottish reel in A mixolydian. "Chilliechassie" refers to a historic estate near Aberfeldy in Scotland. The reel has a driving rhythm and is recorded 15 times, but has only a single session set recorded.
18. Thirteen Arches, The
CmajorStatistical Summary: Recorded 10 times by 10 artists, but appears in only 1 bookmarks and 1 session sets. Evidence Level: medium.
Analysis: Composed by the legendary accordion player Charlie Lennon, The Thirteen Arches is written in C major. Lennon named it after the famous thirteen-arch bridge in his hometown of Kiltyclogher, County Leitrim. It has been recorded 10 times by 10 different artists.
19. Dillon Brown
GmajorStatistical Summary: Recorded 18 times by 15 artists, but appears in only 0 bookmarks and 8 session sets. Evidence Level: medium.
Analysis: A traditional G major reel that is found in 54 different historic tunebooks. It has been recorded 18 times by 15 artists, but has only 8 session appearances, suggesting it has fallen out of favor in the modern session core.
20. Reavey's
GmajorStatistical Summary: Recorded 11 times by 9 artists, but appears in only 0 bookmarks and 3 session sets. Evidence Level: medium.
Analysis: Composed by the famous Cavan fiddler and composer Ed Reavey, who wrote session classics like The Hunter's House and The Maudabawn Chapel. This G major reel has been recorded 11 times by 9 artists but has only 3 session sets.
21. Paddy Cronin's
DmajorStatistical Summary: Recorded 19 times by 17 artists, but appears in only 1 bookmarks and 1 session sets. Evidence Level: medium.
Analysis: Paddy Cronin was a legendary Kerry fiddler, a pupil of Pádraig O'Keeffe. This D major reel is associated with his unique Kerry slide-inflected playing. It has 19 commercial recordings by 17 artists, but only a single session set recorded.
22. Sir Arthur Shaen
EminorStatistical Summary: Recorded 13 times by 13 artists, but appears in only 1 bookmarks and 3 session sets. Evidence Level: medium.
Analysis: Composed by the blind harper Turlough O'Carolan in the early 18th century, this E minor tune is often adapted as a reel or hornpipe. It has been recorded 13 times by 13 different artists.
Carolan compositions have a very distinct classical influence, which makes them highly popular for solo harp, guitar, and concertina arrangements. However, their classical structure makes them less common in standard pub sets, where traditional dance-driven reels are favored.
Common Patterns in the Data
Analyzing the statistics of these 22 hidden gem reels reveals several recurring patterns:
- Many Respected Recordings by Diverse Artists: Every tune on this list has been recorded by at least 9 different artists. This high ratio of artists to recordings suggests that these tunes are not merely the quirks of a single famous band (like Altan or Planxty) but have been independently discovered and appreciated by many musicians over the decades.
- Surprisingly Few User Bookmarks: Despite their quality, these tunes have almost zero bookmarks on the site. This is a strong indicator of community neglect, as bookmarks typically track the tunes that active players are actively learning or practicing.
- Rare Appearances in Session Sets: With most of these tunes appearing in only 0 or 1 recorded session sets, they are effectively invisible in modern group play.
- Key and Instrumental Ergonomics: The presence of flat keys (like F major and C major) and modal scales (like Mixolydian and Dorian) suggests that modern sessions are heavily biased toward the easiest keys on the simple-system flute and tin whistle (D major and G major), while flat keys are neglected.
Why Hidden Gems Matter
Reclaiming underrated tunes and introducing them to your session circle has several major benefits:
- Keeps Sessions Fresh: Repeating the same session staples can lead to musical fatigue. Introducing a hidden gem like Paddy Kelly's or The Grey Bob immediately injects new energy and interest.
- Preserves Neglected Repertoire: Traditional music is a living archive. If a tune is recorded but never played, it eventually risks fading from active memory. By playing these tunes, we help preserve the full breadth of the tradition.
- Helps Musicians Stand Out: Learning unique, beautiful tunes that are not played by every other whistle or fiddle player helps you build a distinctive personal repertoire and stand out in the traditional music community.
- Expands Your Knowledge of the Tradition: Exploring these tunes exposes you to regional styles, unique composers, and different key signatures, making you a more well-rounded and versatile player.
Musicians can query any of these tunes on Trad Tune Explorer to view their full settings history, ABC notation, and transition pathways.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a hidden gem Irish reel?
A hidden gem Irish reel is a tune that has a strong commercial recording history (recorded multiple times by professional artists) but is rarely bookmarked by users or played in modern session sets, making it a perfect candidate for revival.
Why are some great reels underrated or rarely played?
Obscurity often stems from key signatures (flat keys like F major are difficult on D flutes/whistles), vocal origins where the song is favored over the dance rhythm, or regional styling (Scottish/Cape Breton tunes recorded by virtuosos but overlooked by Irish session players).
What is the most underrated Irish reel?
According to the database, The Flower of Magherally holds the highest hidden gem score, with 26 recordings by 21 artists but zero recorded session sets and only 2 bookmarks.
How can I learn these underrated reels?
You can search for their setting IDs on Trad Tune Explorer to view their ABC notation and sheet music, listen to their landmark recordings, and introduce them to your local session group.
Conclusion: Exploring the Tradition
Traditional music is a rich, organic archive, but it requires active participation to stay alive. By stepping outside the comfortable loop of session standards and learning these 22 data-proven hidden gems, you can help preserve outstanding compositions and expand your musical horizons.
We encourage you to explore every tune in this article on the **Trad Tune Explorer**. Use our interactive search, view the sheet music and settings, and discover the legendary recordings that make these underrated reels deserve a place in every session circle.