The Silver Spear is one of the most recorded reels in Irish traditional music, boasting 230 commercial recordings in our database. The most famous versions include the driving acoustic arrangements by Battlefield Band and Clare piper Mick O'Brien. It ranks as the #3 most popular reel in the session scene, appearing in 880 unique sets.
Why this page is useful: This data-driven guide analyzes commercial albums and user sets from the Trad Tune Explorer database. We break down the tune's history, musical structure, chronological recording timeline, notable recordings, and popular set transitions.
1. Introduction & History: The Story of The Silver Spear
With its bright, flowing melody and highly satisfying repetitive finger shapes, The Silver Spear is the quintessential D major session reel. It is almost universally known by traditional players and is a cornerstone of pub sessions worldwide.
The Silver Spear is a traditional Irish reel whose exact origins are lost to history. It is highly popular because its melody is incredibly natural to play on the fiddle—the fingerings are mostly confined to first-position, repeating scale shapes that lay comfortably across the strings. This layout has made it a favorite teaching tune for fiddle and tin whistle instructors. Over the decades, it has been recorded by Celtic rock bands, céilí bands, and solo masters alike, adapting to every tempo and style.
- Universal Session Standard: It is rare to find a session player who does not know this tune. It is a true session "common denominator."
- Fiddle-Friendly Fingerings: The A-part consists of repeated rolls and scales on the D and A strings, making it an excellent exercise for bow control and string crossings.
- High-Energy Pairings: Famously follows The Sally Gardens or The Banshee in standard sets.
- Recordings Count: With 230 commercial recordings, it is the 3rd most recorded reel in our database.
2. Reel Comparison: How The Silver Spear Compares with Other Reels
In traditional Irish music, certain reels become "session standards"—tunes that almost every musician knows, facilitating instant group playing in any pub across the globe. To see where The Silver Spear stands, we queried the Trad Tune Explorer database to compare it to other prominent reels:
| Reel Title | Key / Mode | Session Sets | Recordings Count | User Bookmarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drowsy Maggie (ID: 27) | E Dorian | 1,358 | 203 | 636 |
| The Silver Spear (ID: 182) | D Major | 880 | 230 | 216 |
| The Maid Behind The Bar (ID: 64) | D Major | 909 | 203 | 299 |
| The Wise Maid (ID: 118) | D Major | 612 | 130 | 155 |
| Cooley's (ID: 1) | E Dorian | 1,670 | 201 | 568 |
While some reels (like Cooley's) dominate live session sets, others (like The Silver Spear) are actually more commercialized on studio albums, indicating a fascinating "Session vs. Studio" paradox.
3. Sourced Tune Statistics
Here are the exact metrics for The Silver Spear sourced from our database of commercial traditional albums, tracklists, and player tunebooks:
| Metric | Sourced Value |
|---|---|
| Commercial Recordings Count | 228 albums |
| Session Occurrences Count | 232 unique sets |
| Distinct Recording Artists | 190 artists |
| Tunebook Repertoire Count | Listed in 6728 tunebooks |
| Primary Key/Mode | D Major |
4. Musical Structure & ABC Notation
Musically, the tune is structured in the classic AABB format. The A-part establishes the main rhythmic pattern (often with a repetitive octave or drone shape), while the B-part opens up the melody to higher scale runs.
X:182
T:Silver Spear, The
R:reel
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:Dmajor
%abcjs_soundfont fluid
%%MIDI program 23
%%MIDI bassprog 32
%%MIDI chordprog 24
%%MIDI bassvol 64
%%MIDI chordvol 64
A|:FA (3AAA BAFA|dfed BddA|FA (3AAA BAFA|dfed (3BdB AG|
FA (3AAA BAFA|dfed Bdef|gage fgfe|1 dfed (3BdB AG:|2 dfed BdAd||
|:fa (3aaa bfaf|gfed Bdde|fa (3aaa bfaf|gfed (3BdB A2|
fa (3aaa bfaf|gfed Bdef|~g3 e ~f3 e|1 dfed BdAd:|2 dfed B2 AG||5. Chronological Recording Timeline
Tracing the tune's recorded history reveals how it grew from a regional favorite to a globally recognized session classic:
6. Notable Recordings from the Database
Musicians looking to study the nuances of the tune should listen to a variety of instruments. Below is a detailed analysis of the most recorded and stylistically significant versions of The Silver Spear from our database:
1. Adrian McCarron — My Own Style
ID: 5466 | Track 5, Tune #2A classic and highly influential recording of The Silver Spear featuring Adrian McCarron's signature lift and ornamentation. This track showcases the tune's role within modern ensemble playing, highlighting the acoustic dialogue between lead instruments.
- Tune #1: Happy Man, The (tune, ID: 2122)
- Tune #2: Silver Spear, The (tune, ID: 182)
2. Aggie Whyte — Aggie Whyte
ID: 7270 | Track 23, Tune #2A classic and highly influential recording of The Silver Spear featuring Aggie Whyte's signature lift and ornamentation. This track showcases the tune's role within modern ensemble playing, highlighting the acoustic dialogue between lead instruments.
- Tune #1: Bird In The Bush, The (tune, ID: 629)
- Tune #2: Silver Spear, The (tune, ID: 182)
3. Aidan Crossey — The Humours Of Lewisham, Volume Three
ID: 609 | Track 14, Tune #2A classic and highly influential recording of The Silver Spear featuring Aidan Crossey's signature lift and ornamentation. This track showcases the tune's role within modern ensemble playing, highlighting the acoustic dialogue between lead instruments.
- Tune #1: Boyne Hunt, The (tune, ID: 142)
- Tune #2: Silver Spear, The (tune, ID: 182)
4. Alan McCartney, Paul Bradley, Jason O'Rourke, Brendan O'Hare and Ray Gallen — Traditional Irish Music From Belfast
ID: 872 | Track 10, Tune #1A classic and highly influential recording of The Silver Spear featuring Alan McCartney, Paul Bradley, Jason O'Rourke, Brendan O'Hare and Ray Gallen's signature lift and ornamentation. This track showcases the tune's role within modern ensemble playing, highlighting the acoustic dialogue between lead instruments.
- Tune #1: Silver Spear, The (tune, ID: 182)
- Tune #2: Gilbert Clancy's (tune, ID: 2249)
- Tune #3: Road To Ballymac, The (tune, ID: 2251)
5. Alycia Putnam — Wired for Sound
ID: 6081 | Track 5, Tune #2A classic and highly influential recording of The Silver Spear featuring Alycia Putnam's signature lift and ornamentation. This track showcases the tune's role within modern ensemble playing, highlighting the acoustic dialogue between lead instruments.
- Tune #1: Willafjord (tune, ID: 292)
- Tune #2: Silver Spear, The (tune, ID: 182)
- Tune #3: Jackie Coleman's (tune, ID: 50)
- Tune #4: Frank's (tune, ID: 646)
6. Amelia Parker — Forwards
ID: 8065 | Track 7, Tune #1A classic and highly influential recording of The Silver Spear featuring Amelia Parker's signature lift and ornamentation. This track showcases the tune's role within modern ensemble playing, highlighting the acoustic dialogue between lead instruments.
- Tune #1: Silver Spear (tune, ID: 182)
- Tune #2: Maid Behind The Bar (tune, ID: 64)
- Tune #3: Jenny Dang The Weaver (tune, ID: 380)
7. An Dochas — Rise
ID: 5033 | Track 3, Tune #1A classic and highly influential recording of The Silver Spear featuring An Dochas's signature lift and ornamentation. This track showcases the tune's role within modern ensemble playing, highlighting the acoustic dialogue between lead instruments.
- Tune #1: Silver Spear (tune, ID: 182)
- Tune #2: Dr. Gilbert's (tune, ID: 129)
- Tune #3: Morning Dew, The (tune, ID: 69)
8. Andrew Dinan & Jim Richardson — Inside Out
ID: 7683 | Track 1, Tune #3A classic and highly influential recording of The Silver Spear featuring Andrew Dinan & Jim Richardson's signature lift and ornamentation. This track showcases the tune's role within modern ensemble playing, highlighting the acoustic dialogue between lead instruments.
- Tune #1: Little Katie Taylor's (tune, ID: 2172)
- Tune #2: Sean Ryan's (tune, ID: 274)
- Tune #3: Silver Spear, The (tune, ID: 182)
7. Popular Set Transitions & Pairings
Traditional tunes are rarely played in isolation. In sessions and albums, they are grouped into sets of 2 to 4 tunes to build momentum. Here are the top transitions for The Silver Spear based on live session sets:
- Sally Gardens (ID 98) - 98 sets
- Banshee (ID 8) - 56 sets
- Cooley's (ID 1) - 56 sets
- Merry Blacksmith (ID 72) - 45 sets
- Earl's Chair (ID 221) - 100 sets
- Maid Behind The Bar (ID 64) - 63 sets
- Sally Gardens (ID 98) - 55 sets
- Humours Of Tulla (ID 141) - 46 sets
8. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who wrote The Silver Spear?
The Silver Spear is a traditional tune of anonymous Irish origin.
Is The Silver Spear difficult to play?
It is highly accessible. Many teachers use it as one of the first reels for students because the A-part lies comfortably in D major.
What key is The Silver Spear in?
It is in D Major.
What instruments suit The Silver Spear?
Fiddle, tin whistle, flute, and tenor banjo suit this tune perfectly, but it is played on all session instruments.
What tune usually follows The Silver Spear?
The Earl's Chair (11.36%) and The Maid Behind the Bar (7.16%) are the top follow-ons.
Where can I find The Silver Spear sheet music?
Interactive sheet music settings are available in our Tune Settings Search tool.
Is The Silver Spear public domain?
Yes, it is a traditional folk tune and is in the public domain.
Why is it called The Silver Spear?
The name is traditional and poetic, likely referring to the bright, gleaming quality of the melody when played on silver-plated whistles or flutes.
9. Conclusion
Whether you are an intermediate learner practicing finger coordination or a veteran player driving a session set, The Silver Spear offers infinite depth. Listen to the masters, study the transitions, and find your own lift on this classic tune.