To finally arrive home, out of the bone-chilling cold, after the church service in St Thomas’, and to celebrate Christmas with the family: the five former members of the St Thomas Boys Choir know this desire from their childhood.

Today, too, the internationally sought-after ensemble is on the road most of the year, on tour. In 2011 Amarcord could be experienced for the first time in Africa, and also in the USA, France, Greece, the Netherlands and Italy.

From the many trips to nearly all the corners of the world, the singers have again and again brought songs home with them. A selection of these is featured on the new CD.

And the sounds of the songs are just as diverse as the personalities and preferences of the singers. Sometimes they are reminiscent of a quiet pop ballad, then of a Christmas sleigh-ride in deep snow. To be found here are hot African rhythms as well as contemplative and touching melodies. Götz Alsmann could not resist the sweet fragrances of the pastry shop and contributed a bonus track.

The singers shift effortlessly from classical harmonies to groovy beats. But, of course, everything under the special hallmark of amarcord: the blended, always balanced, and yet diversified ensemble timbre that on this CD can also sound like Take 6 and Bobby McFerrin. Responsible for this is not least Bill Hare, the Grammy-Award winner and today’s leading sound craftsman for the international a cappella scene, who put the finishing touches on this album too.

Contents:
1. Juokse porosein - FINLAND
Text: Frans Mikael Franzén / Olli Wuorinen, arr. Mia Makaroff

2. So viel Heimlichkeit - GERMANY
Text/Music: Lotte Schuffenhauer, arr. Christoph J Göbel

3. Winter Wonderland - USA
Text: Richard B Smith
Music: Felix Bernard, arr. Alexander L’Estrange

4. Nu tändas tusen juleljus - SWEDEN
Text/Music: Emmy Köhler, arr. Joel Nilson

5. Noël Nouvelet - FRANCE
Text/Music: Traditional, arr. Matthias E Becker

6. Betelehemu - NIGERIA, feat. Sam Jarju (perc)
Text/Music: Traditional arr. Alexander L’Estrange

7. Jezus malusienki - POLAND
Text/Music: Traditional arr. Matthias Zeller

8. Stille Nacht - TYROL
Text: Joseph Moor
Music: Franz Xaver Gruber, arr. Matthias Zeller

9. Hark! the herald angels sing - ENGLAND
Text: Charles Wesley
Music: Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy/William H Cummings, arr. Naomi Crellin

10. Fum Fum Fum - CATALONIA
Text/Music: Traditional arr. Matthias E Becker

11. Il est né le divin enfant - FRANCE
Text/Music: Traditional, arr. Juan Miguel Verdugo Garcia

12. White Christmas - USA
Text/Music: Irving Berlin, arr. Tobias Forster

13. Summer sleeps
Text/musik/arr. Juan Miguel Verdugo Garcia

14. I wonder as I wander - USA
Text/Music: John Jacob Niles, arr. Matthias Zeller

15. Parang Christmas Chutney (Bring out de ham/ I want a piece of pork) - TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
Text/Music: Marcia Miranda (Bring out de ham)
Text/Music: Scrunter (I want a piece of pork), arr. Alexander L’Estrange

Bonus:
16. So viel Heimlichkeit (Zuckerbaecker-Remix)
featuring Götz Alsmann (voc+acc), Markus Paßlick (perc) & Rudi Marhold (dr)