These problems can be helped a bit by theme coding. I think Breandan Breathnach was the first to do this for a significant repertoire, but there have been a couple of larger efforts since - the National Tune Index (mostly English and Scottish material up to 1800) and Charles Gore's Scottish Fiddle Music Index.

If somebody wants (Gore system) 11H66 3333 in A, there's only one tune it can be.

http://www.scottishmusicindex.org/