The 2012 ECHO prizewinners shine with world-premiere recordings of two mass cycles from the ca. 700-year-old Thomas Gradual / In honor of the anniversary celebration “800 Years Thomana,” the vocal ensemble amarcord impressively presents on its new CD one of the most important testimonials to liturgical musical practice at the Thomaskirche: the Saint Thomas Gradual, which dates from the first quarter of the fourteenth century, numbers among the most important collections of medieval plainchant and is considered a prime example of German chant. amarcord, which celebrates its twentieth anniversary this year, is the 2012 ECHO prizewinner in the category “Ensemble of the Year – Vocal Music.” Moreover, the five Leipzig singers are internationally highly esteemed as interpreters of the vocal music of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. During the ensemble’s extensive concert tour of Australia, The Australian commented on the “supple rubato and an elegant sound quality.” The Sydney Morning Herald pointed out that “the vowel sounds have beautiful purity.” Earlier this year, the Süddeutsche Zeitung hit the nail on the head: “five voices, one sound.”