Nominated for Classical Recording of the Year and Classical Composition of the Year (for Keith Hamel’s Homage to Liu Wenjin) by the 2015 Western Canadian Music Awards.

With PEP (Piano and Erhu Project) Vol. 2, Nicole Ge Li and Corey Hamm continue their journey into the world of newly commissioned works for erhu (Chinese two-stringed fiddle) and piano. The album immediately leaps into action with Dorothy Chang’s Four Short Poems: imagery rich studies in virtuosity, humour, and bittersweet nostalgia. Keith Hamel’s Homage to Liu Wenjin (nominated for “Composition of the Year” at the 2015 Western Canadian Music Awards) is an achingly beautiful tribute to a departed colleague; Aaron Gervais explores the erhu’s impressionist potential in his Debussy-ian Who Made the Inch of Grass; Hope Lee’s Imaginary Garden I strikingly paints the surreal scene of a snowfall in summertime; and Remy Siu’s Mainland Sonata is a cunning metaphor for the complex relationship between China and the West. Additional works by Daniel Marshall, Emily Doolittle, Elizabeth Raum, and Douglas Finch round out this meaty second instalment. As always, the rapport between Li and Hamm is a delight to the ear – their synergy is undoubtedly what earned this album a nomination for “Classical Recording of the Year” at the 2015 Western Canadian Music Awards.

Performers: PEP (Piano and Erhu Project) Nicole Ge Li, erhu; Corey Hamm, piano (percussion on Track 9)
Recorded at: Roy Barnett Hall, UBC School of Music
Producers: Don Harder, Nicole Ge Li, and Corey Hamm
Recording Engineer: Don Harder
Mixing and Mastering: Don Harder
Translations: Nicole Ge Li
Photography: Jennifer Zhao, Nicole Ge li, and Corey Hamm
Cover Photo: Jennifer Zhao
Graphic Design and Manufacturing: Digital Media Group

REVIEW
“PEP sets our expectations of New Music against sounds often associated with traditional music and in doing that provides something that is fresh as it is unique.” – Jason Hall – Vancouver Observer March 2015

The Wholenote Magazine CD Review (Sept.2015, Page 70)

Get a copy of PEP Volume 2 from:
Download: iTUNES   AMAZON   BANDCAMP
Physical CDs: NICOLE LI   BANDCAMP

TRACKS
1.-4. Four Short Poems – Dorothy Chang
5.  Homage to Liu Wenjin – Keith Hamel
6.  Who Made the Inch of Grass – Aaron Gervais
7.  such that I left a dream – Daniel Marshall
8.  suppose I was a marigold – Emily Doolittle
9.  A Garden of Transplants – Elizabeth Raum
10. Chorale Threnody – Douglas Finch
11. Imaginary Garden I. snow-in-summer – Hope Lee
12. mainland sonata – Remy Siu