{"id":116790,"date":"2025-08-15T16:02:15","date_gmt":"2025-08-15T20:02:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=116790"},"modified":"2025-09-23T09:16:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T13:16:23","slug":"ocad-philippe-blanchard-lawrence-wiliford-canadian-art-song-project-animation-project-piece-atop-his-pate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2025\/08\/15\/ocad-philippe-blanchard-lawrence-wiliford-canadian-art-song-project-animation-project-piece-atop-his-pate\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | OCAD University\u2019s Philippe Blanchard &#038; Lawrence Wiliford Of The Canadian Art Song Project Talk About The Piece Atop His Pate"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_116794\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-116794\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-116794\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-98.jpg\" alt=\"An early shot from the upcoming animated short The Piece Atop His Pate (Photo courtesy of the Canadian Art Song Project)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-98.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-98-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-98-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/Copy-of-INTERVIEW-98-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-116794\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">An early shot from the upcoming animated short The Piece Atop His Pate (Photo courtesy of the Canadian Art Song Project)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Back on April 14, 1978, a few brawls broke out during a World Hockey Association game between the Birmingham Bulls and the Winnipeg Jets.<\/p>\n<p>During the melee, Birmingham Bulls player Dave Hanson ripped hockey icon Bobby Hull\u2019s hairpiece right off his head. It became an infamous moment in the game\u2019s history. Hull slipped into the dressing room, and came back to play the rest of the game wearing a helmet \u2014 something he rarely did.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s the incident at the heart of a new animated project by The Canadian Art Song Project titled The Piece Atop His Pate.<\/p>\n<h2>The Canadian Art Song Project (CASP)<\/h2>\n<p>The Canadian Art Song Project was founded by tenor Lawrence Wiliford and pianist Steven Philcox in 2011 as a two-fold effort: to revive existing art song repertoire, and work with professional Canadian artists to develop new pieces. Their mandate includes promoting Canadian art song written by Canadian composers.<\/p>\n<p>Their view includes reaching out to all Canadians to look to Canadian-made art song to tell our stories. CASP has commissioned works for voice and piano by Brian Current, Marjan Mozetich, Norbert Palej, James Rolfe, Ana Sokolovic, and other Canadian composers.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019ve made recordings of the genre, and they\u2019re looking to spread the word via the digital world as well. Their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2024\/06\/05\/preview-sweat-wild-goose-two-vocal-arts-films-screen-june-15-toronto\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">first animated video project debuted in 2024<\/a>, and they\u2019re following up with another that\u2019s based on a classic moment in Canadian hockey history.<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9zZEsqvOWS4?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h3>The Piece Atop His Pate<\/h3>\n<p>The new animation and art song project, The Piece Atop His Pate, is based on a song by the late <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2023\/03\/28\/memoriam-composer-jocelyn-morlock-died-age-53\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Jocelyn Morlock<\/a>. The title of Morlock\u2019s piece, Bobby Hull, tells you the main character, and it comes from her cycle Perruqueries, with a text by writer and former CBC broadcaster Bill Richardson that includes bits from Hockey Night in Canada broadcasts.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s part of CASP\u2019s emphasis on telling Canadian stories.<\/p>\n<p>The story is told with an operatic sensibility, and runs the gamut from humour to empathy. The animation design is based on retro TV graphics, vintage Hockey Night in Canada, and cartoons of the era.<\/p>\n<p>The animation is being produced by students from OCAD University through an educational and creative partnership with CASP.<\/p>\n<p>Performers include baritone Keith Lam and Steven Philcox, sought after collaborative piano and CASP Co-Artistic Director. Lam is a Hong Kong born, Toronto-based vocalist who\u2019s performed with Canadian Opera Company, Tafelmusik, Tapestry Opera, Opera 5, the Bicycle Opera Project, Toronto Operetta Theatre, and Jeunesse Musicales, among others.<\/p>\n<p>We spoke to Lawrence Wiliford, Managing Director, Co-Founder &amp; Co-Artistic Director of the Canadian Art Song Project, and Philippe Blanchard, Interim Dean, Associate Professor, Faculty of Art at OCAD University.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_116795\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-116795\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-116795\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/Lawrence-.jpg\" alt=\"Lawrence Wiliford, tenor &amp; Managing Director, Co-Founder &amp; Co-Artistic Director of the Canadian Art Song Project (Photo courtesy of the artist)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"581\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/Lawrence-.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/Lawrence--300x145.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/Lawrence--1024x496.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2025\/08\/Lawrence--768x372.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-116795\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lawrence Wiliford, tenor &amp; Managing Director, Co-Founder &amp; Co-Artistic Director of the Canadian Art Song Project (Photo courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>Lawrence Wiliford &amp; Philipppe Blanchard: The Interview<\/h2>\n<p>According to Wiliford, the song was chosen for a number of reasons. CASP explored various projects with OCAD.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe wanted to start leaning into Canadiana really hard,\u201d he says. That includes looking at stories that come from different time periods, regions, and communities across Canada.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis story takes place in Winnipeg,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n<p>Wiliford was already familiar with Morlock\u2019s music, and the composer herself.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJocelyn Morlock was a friend,\u201d Lawrence says. CASP co-founder Steven Philcox was likewise affected by her death in 2023. \u201cHer passing was very, very hard for us both. We&#8217;re also looking for a way to celebrate her humour and vibrancy, and quirkiness.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Would she like the end result?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI just think she&#8217;d be delighted.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The text for the song uses quotes from Hockey Night in Canada. Wiliford describes it as quirky. \u201cThe text is from Bill Richardson. It just felt right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The scenario, as he points out, has operatic dimensions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt felt right for animation and to explore it. It&#8217;s fun. We really miss her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>For Blanchard, it\u2019s a good working collaboration.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe pleasure of working with Lawrence in working on the CASP projects is that a lot is left for interpretation,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>It allows the students to use more of their creativity. Lawrence provides leads and suggestions for exploration.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn this case, there&#8217;s a clear narrative to the song,\u201d Philippe notes. The characters are already set, as is the tone. \u201cThe tone of the song is quite ironic and satirical. We kind of leaned into that with the visual style.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He says the students researched the era and the animation aesthetics of the time to come up with a style that was appropriate for the story. Four students talk about their placement in the project here:<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/g035FVF4inY?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h3>Style &amp; Cartooning A Historical Character<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s an actual event that took place,\u201d Wiliford adds. \u201cIt gave us a context to go very retro.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Helmets wouldn\u2019t become required of professional players until 1979, and even then, existing players were allowed to play without one until 1997. The fact that Hull would return to the ice in his helmet added another visual element to the story.<\/p>\n<p>They were looking for a specific style from the era. \u201cWe leaned into the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.warnerbros.com\/brands\/hanna-barbera\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hanna-Barbera<\/a> period,\u201d Wiliford says. That includes their Pete the Puck series, which was commissioned by the CBC, and used to explain hockey rules to young players.<\/p>\n<p>He also let the students use their imaginations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe students created their own kind of character.\u201d Thus, Stanley the Stick becomes part of the story.<\/p>\n<p>Wiliford notes that dealing with a real figure from history raises other issues. \u201cBobby Hull is a tricky figure,\u201d he notes.<\/p>\n<p>Hull certainly had controversial moments in his career, despite his success on the ice. \u201cI don\u2019t think I really appreciated that quite as much,\u201d Lawrence says. OCAD was initially concerned with the hockey player\u2019s notoriety.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere was a little bit of concern about what this would imply to Bobby Hull and his family,\u201d he says. \u201cThat did start raising some concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The point was to make the fun good humoured, and not about poking fun at someone\u2019s insecurities.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI understand people feeling embarrassed for all sorts of different reasons,\u201d Wiliford adds. \u201cLives are complicated. We leaned into satire.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He consulted with Blanchard on the right tone to set, and how to convey the shame of the situation as an experience viewers share with the character \u2014 rather than pointing a finger at him from afar.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere&#8217;s a balance to strike here. It&#8217;s a historical moment,\u201d Blanchard says. \u201cI think we struck a balance between empathy and satire and humour.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Without eulogizing the Hull character, the students looked for ways of making him into someone real.<\/p>\n<p><strong>* As of September 22, 2025, the new animated short is available to view here:<\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Csj4zIAGw64?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h3>A Working Process<\/h3>\n<p>As Wiliford points out, the students didn\u2019t know who Bobby Hull was at first. They began researching the hockey history of almost a half century ago. He notes that art students aren\u2019t always the biggest sports fans.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s a generational thing for sure,\u201d Philippe adds.<\/p>\n<p>The mix of students also creates a fresh perspective.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat I like about the projects that we do with Lawrence, there is sort of the Canadiana element to it, but it&#8217;s interpreted often by international students,\u201d Blanchard says. Those students have a different perspective on Canadian culture.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt challenges my notions about what is important about Canadian culture in general,\u201d Philippe adds. Some had to do some basic research into the game of hockey itself.<\/p>\n<p>The students learned as they worked on the project.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt&#8217;s the way we approached it,\u201d Blanchard says.<\/p>\n<p>Animation work is quite structured, with each artist having a very specific and narrow role. A lot of research goes into the preproduction process.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor those student, I think that was a real eye opener,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>More advanced animation students are typically focused on elements like character design. Blanchard say the CASP projects have been very popular with students.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think students crave this kind of creative applied project with a real world outcome,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<h3>Engaging the Audience<\/h3>\n<p>Wiliford believes that the digital realm has a great deal of potential for art music, and art song.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have a very strong opinion that the performing arts need to be engaged in the digital system \u2014 and we&#8217;re not,\u201d Wiliford says. He notes that most classical music organizations only use video and digital media for PR purposes.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s really about finding multiple ways of engaging with audiences, not pitting one way of experiencing the music against another.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI remember watching Fantasia,\u201d Lawrence recalls. \u201cMy daughter listens to the Classical Kids series.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Older animated shows and movies routinely used classical music, and made it part of current culture. It\u2019s also about reaching people who wouldn\u2019t even consider coming into a concert hall for various reasons.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat about all the people who come to Canada, and haven&#8217;t listened to a classical music in a concert hall?\u201d Wiliford wonders. The short song format CASP has focused on is a good length for storytelling. \u201cI think it&#8217;s a relevant idea \u2014 and no one else is doing it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Focusing on Canadiana helps to build cultural identity.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThese are all the things I&#8217;m thinking about,\u201d Wiliford states.<\/p>\n<p>His goal is to connect with viewers on a straightforward level where they\u2019re simply absorbing the story and animated art, and not even thinking about the genre of music.<\/p>\n<h3>A Partnership<\/h3>\n<p>The collaboration between CASP and OCAD is one that benefits both.<\/p>\n<p>A video launch is anticipated for the fall of 2025, with more details to be announced.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPhilippe and I are talking about further projects as well,\u201d Lawrence says.<\/p>\n<p>You can find out more about the Canadian Art Song Project [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.canadianartsongproject.ca\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>].<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Are you looking to promote an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/advertising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0e101a;\"><u>event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? 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