Wednesday, January 28, 2026

A Free Festival

I had meant to get this post up some weeks ago because it shares a choir director with an earlier share, but I wasn't able to get it prepped in time to get both posts up together. I'm throwing it up now because I needed something to share on this Wednesday, and it was just lying there collecting dust. I think Elmer Iseler was a popular vocal director up in Canada during the 60's when this record likely came out. I've even found a couple of CD's of choirs he directed singing Christmas carols, so he seems to have had a long and fruitful career. There also appears to be a choir carrying his name that still performs today! But from the vinyl past, this is The Festival Singers Conducted By Elmer Iseler-A Festival Of Christmas Music (Hallmark (Canada) ChS-4, Mono).

1. Deck The Halls
2. Wassail Song
3. Welcome Yule
4. Away In A Manger
5. D'ou Viens Tu, Bergere?
6. The Rocking Carol
7. The Holly And The Ivy
8. God Rest You Merry
9. The Twelve Days Of Christmas
10. Hodie Christus Natus Est
11. The First Nowell
12. Christmas Song Of The 14th Century
13. Hymn To The Virgin
14. Lo, How A Rose
15. All My Heart
16. In Dulci Jubilo
17. O Come, All Ye Faithful

MEGA

Posted by Ernie at 1/28/2026 06:00:00 AM

19 comments:

  1. KeekWednesday, January 28, 2026 8:43:00 AM

    Thanks for this. Is this the longest you've gone during the holiday season? If not, you must be pretty close to the record. It's all appreciated.

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    Replies
    1. ErnieWednesday, January 28, 2026 10:41:00 AM

      I kept going the year where I shared the 78s until sometime in early February. Hoping to beat that this year, but I've got a couple weeks to go still. Thanks for the note, and for sticking around!

      Delete
    2. BusterWednesday, January 28, 2026 11:36:00 AM

      Christmas in February? I like it!

      Delete
    3. ErnieWednesday, January 28, 2026 1:00:00 PM

      Fingers crossed...

      Delete
    4. JonathanWednesday, January 28, 2026 8:03:00 PM

      I'm looking forward to Christmas in February :) We usually keep our Christmas Tree up until around the middle of February, or even into March :)
      My wife's birthday is in early February, and like's to keep the tree up until after then. We also have a tradition, when we invite a friend or friends from church, and have an "after Christmas Dinner", which we will be doing this coming Sunday.

      Delete
    5. ErnieThursday, January 29, 2026 9:25:00 AM

      I feel like I'm stretching it too far, but you're stretching it further than I am!

      Delete
  2. AnonymousWednesday, January 28, 2026 11:19:00 AM

    1956

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    Replies
    1. ErnieWednesday, January 28, 2026 12:59:00 PM

      That old? I figured late sixties, early seventies.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousThursday, January 29, 2026 10:04:00 AM

      I don't know the year, but by the late sixties you didn't really see "Long Playing Microgroove" on labels, as that was to alert the listener that they weren't holding a 78. So 1956 could be right. Also, most mono LPs had vanished by 1968, although with small labels with small budgets, you never know.

      Delete
    3. ErnieThursday, January 29, 2026 10:12:00 AM

      Good points, but keep in mind this is Canada, so some things are different up there versus the US market.

      Delete
  3. KworkWednesday, January 28, 2026 6:52:00 PM

    Thank you for keeping things going. I was out of town for a while, but am back and caught up. Very much appreciated!

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    Replies
    1. ErnieThursday, January 29, 2026 9:26:00 AM

      It's easier to get caught up when it's only one share a day. Try to take time off during the height of the season and you're really in trouble!

      Delete
  4. JonathanWednesday, January 28, 2026 8:05:00 PM

    Thank you, Ernie. I have a "Canadian Brass" Christmas album, with the Elmer Iseler Singers on it.

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    Replies
    1. ErnieThursday, January 29, 2026 9:26:00 AM

      Really? I have a bunch of their stuff, I need to look and see if I have that particular one.

      Delete
    2. JonathanFriday, January 30, 2026 12:53:00 AM

      It is their "The Christmas Album" 1990 by Philips Label.

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    3. JonathanFriday, January 30, 2026 12:53:00 AM

      https://www.discogs.com/release/2691786-Canadian-Brass-The-Christmas-Album

      Delete
    4. ErnieFriday, January 30, 2026 7:07:00 AM

      Huh, none of those covers look familiar, maybe I don't have this one...

      Delete
  5. BryanFriday, February 06, 2026 1:39:00 PM

    Well Ernie, I enjoyed every moment listing to this one. I love a choir that can "sing and carry a tune"
    Almost Excellent, with a Capital "E".

    ReplyDelete

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