Canadian Art Song Project is excited to share a sneak peek at the next chapter in our journey of blending art song with animation: The Piece Atop His Pate — a new animated short based on “Bobby Hull,” a wonderfully engaging song by the late Jocelyn Morlock from her song cycle Perruqueries, with whimsical and lively text by writer and former CBC broadcaster Bill Richardson.
This new short builds on the warm reception of our first animated short The Wild Goose and our growing commitment to telling Canadian stories through music and digital media.
🏒 What to Expect from The Piece Atop His Pate
This new animated short takes its cue from a legendary 1978 hockey brawl where Bobby Hull’s hairpiece came off mid-fight—a moment brought to life with humor, empathy, and operatic flair.
🏒 Inspiration & Style: Think Hockey Night in Canada, retro TV graphics, and animated nods to Hanna-Barbera’s Peter Puck.
🏒 Animation by: Incredibly talented students at OCAD University through an educational and creative partnership with CASP.
🏒 Music performed by:
- Keith Lam, baritone, whose theatrical artistry and rich vocal presence shine
- Steven Philcox, piano, CASP Co-Artistic Director and one of Canada’s top collaborative artists
This collaboration is being led and produced by Lawrence Wiliford, Co-Artistic Director of CASP and Philippe Blanchard, head of the Dept of Experimental Animation at OCAD University.
You can learn more about the process of creating The Piece Atop His Pate by watching the OCAD University Field Placement Narrative Podcast episode featuring the student animation creative team below.
Coming Fall 2025
Final animation sequences are underway, and we’re planning a Fall 2025 premiere—stay tuned for launch announcements.
Why It Matters
Thanks to the ongoing support from the CASP community and donors, we continue to find bold new ways to connect people to Canadian art song—from recital stages to cinema screens. The Piece Atop His Pate is more than a follow-up: it’s a celebration of creativity, community, and Canadian identity—with music at the heart of it all.
We want to especially thank Janet Stubbs for helping us fund our work on The Piece Atop His Pate.
If you feel you can help us continue to finance this and many other projects, please consider donating to CASP today.