معرفی
Heather Sparling is a Professor of Ethnomusicology and Canada Research Chair in Musical Traditions at Cape Breton University. Her work focuses on Gaelic song traditions, vernacular dance, and disaster songs in Nova Scotia and Atlantic Canada, emphasizing connections between music, language revitalization, and cultural memory. She authored *Reeling Roosters and Dancing Ducks: Celtic Mouth Music* (2014) and edits the journal MUSICultures. Sparling is also an active educational developer, contributing to academic program creation at CBU. She plays principal flute in the Cape Breton Orchestra and is fluent in French and Gaelic.
Her research explores how traditional music serves as a medium for preserving endangered languages and memorializing historical events. Key themes include the role of folk songs in processing collective grief, the intersection of music and language acquisition, and the sociocultural dynamics of Gaelic cultural practices. Recent projects analyze 20th-century Gaelic song archives and the psychological impact of disaster songs on community resilience.
Sparling has received the prestigious Canada Research Chair designation, recognizing her contributions to musical traditions scholarship. Her work bridges academic research with community engagement, demonstrated through initiatives like the Gaelic Song Education Project and collaborations with cultural organizations.
