The trees were still green and the days were long and warm when musician Peter Spencer first approached the Island Music Guild with the idea of recording a CD of holiday tunes, highlighting the many talented musicians in the guild.

“I always thought it would be great to make a Christmas album, but I didn’t have enough stuff on my own,” he said.

Spencer, who moved to Bainbridge Island just over a year ago, found a rich resource of musicians for a holiday album at the Island Music Guild.

“It came about better than I expected,” he said. “Everybody was very open to it, and they’ve done everything they can to make it happen.”

The result of the collaborative effort is “Midwinter Graces From Bainbridge Island,” with 17 songs performed by more than 20 members of Island Music Guild.

Island Music Guild president Dave Bristow said it was an accomplishment that they were able to record many of the songs in the performance space at the new Guild Hall in Rolling Bay, which was one of the goals when they moved into the facility earlier this year.

Songs done at the Guild Hall were recorded by Norm Johnson and engineered by John Wilson.

“We’re really pleased with the quality of the recording,” Bristow said. “The musicians gave their time completely freely and enthusiastically. It was a nice effort from all.”

Many of the songs were written or arranged by the musicians.

The songs are like Christmas ornaments on the tree, with a wide variety of styles. Some will be instant favorites, others will be relegated to the side nearest the wall, but it’s all a matter of personal taste.

Bristow said they wanted to avoid the “quagmire” involved in calling it a “Christmas” album, and they wanted to reflect the musical diversity of the guild members.

There is not, however, a single song related to the “other” December holidays, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or the winter solstice, and the diversity of the tunes ranges from English to Norwegian and their American offspring.

Still, if it’s judged by content rather than omission, Spencer is correct in saying, “There’s something here for everyone to like.”

The CD opens and closes with instrumental pieces by guitarist Spencer, from “Rejoice” to “Lo How a Rose.” He calls them “instrumental bookends.”

He also lends his talents on guitar and vocals to several other songs.

“While Shepards Watched their Flocks by Night” features Spencer, his son Caleb, John Wilson and Rick Barrenger on vocals, and Dave Bristow on computerized drum.

Spencer said it was an impromptu piece.

“I thought we were just having fun singing,” he said.

Bristow performed a little “studio magic” on the spontaneous performance to polish it for the CD, resulting in an ethereal piece that seems to float through the winter air.

“It’s Supposed to Snow” is an ode to Christmas in the Northwest written by Spencer and Robin Filler, who contributes impressive vocals to the bluesy number. Liam Graham fills in the bass line. Spencer and Filler play the swinging “Santa Baby,” and Rick Barrenger sings while Spencer plays guitar on the poignant and pointed Willie Nelson tune “Pretty Paper.”

The album also contains several tunes that are computer assisted.

“Choral Prelude on a Child’s Christmas in Wales,” by Bruce Galloway, is entirely done on a computer, with a MIDI (musical instrument digital interface) program, which sounds exactly like a church pipe organ. “Sol Invictus” from “The Holly King,” by Allen Strange, is performed by Pat Strange on electric violins.

Most of the artists on the album are familiar names in the local music community, but they don’t all have CDs of their individual work. This is a good opportunity to catch Jeanne Rose, playing guitar and singing her composition “Gift of a Star,” Justin Davis playing guitar on “Oh Holy Night,” Bristow performing a piano solo on “Coventry Carol” and Kate Moody playing piano on her composition “Gift of a Star.”

Jane Landstra, who can be found leading the band at the monthly contra dances on Bainbridge, contributes the traditional Norwegian song “Var Det Vu” (Is It You?), and her composition “Overby’s Pols, Natur Gutt” (Nature Boy).

Rounding out the offerings is a toe-tapping cajun version of “Silent Night” featuring Tami Allen on fiddle and vocals, Claudette Boudreaux on accordian and vocals, Anya Funk on guitar and vocals, Barbara Deering on double bass and vocals and Ian Turner on percussions; “Master in the Hall,” with Stuart Williams on fiddle, Justin Davis on guitar and Steve Newton on bass; and “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” with Filler on vocals and Bristow on keyboards and electronics.

It may have been preaching — or selling — to the choir, but the first batch of 100 CDs sold out almost immediately, Bristow said. Another batch is available, and available through Island Music Guild members, at Vern’s Winslow Drug and The Glass Onion in downtown Winslow, at the Guild Hall, 10598 Valley Rd., Bainbridge Island, noon to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday, and online at www.img.org.

“Midwinter Graces From Bainbridge Island” is $10 for IMG members, $15 nonmembers.

Hopefully the talented musicians will do a sequel next year, and include a few klezmer and marimba tunes.