For many years, Stephen Pishner has been writing and performing inspirational music for the parishioners of All Saints Catholic Church and showcasing his vocal and instrumental talents through the band, Amici.

 

Now, his original pieces are available for listening on a variety of digital musical platforms, including Apple Music/iTunes, Spotify, CDbaby.com, YouTube and others.

 

Just this week, Pisher’s “Quiet My Soul” was released on CDbaby.com and “This Child” was released on YouTube.

 

Pishner shared the inspiration behind the latter song - a very timely one - which was penned over the summer and thereafter taught to the All Saints choir.

 

“The piece was inspired by the fact that much of the Christmas music we hear sometimes hides the fact that the Christ child - God made flesh - comes to us as a baby, which is most unexpected. In some ways, it probably didn’t make sense to the people of his day and maybe still doesn’t make sense to people today."

 

Pishner said he thought about how God came as a helpless baby, a human being, so that God would know exactly what we feel in our hearts – our pain, our joy and in our daily living and struggles.

 

“The song talks about the Christ child Jesus holding in his hand and experiencing everything that we experience and - not to mention that he’s constantly walking with the outcasts and poor,” Pishner said. “The song reminds us of what the word Emmanuel means: God with us.”

 

“This Child” will be the second song in the carrol service at All Saints Church, 11:15 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Other area churches have plans to use the piece in their upcoming services.

 

Pishner said that until recently, he had not really been conversant with selling or sharing music online, beyond YouTube. But now that compact discs are fading away and downloadable music is more of the norm, he thought perhaps he should be present in that forum of music sharing.

 

“I’ve also been receiving requests for placing the music that I compose or play or sing online, so it’s easily retrievable on cell phones, laptops, and then it can vibrantly flow through Bluetooth to speakers in cars or in houses etc.,” he said.

 

Pishner said he had intended to record a Christmas album this year, but those plans were postponed due to another commitment: Playing the pipe organ at the installation mass for a new bishop at St. Joseph Cathedral in Wheeling.  

 

“The preparation for that took the place of what was to be my recording dates for my Christmas album,” he said. “I’m still planning to do a Christmas recording for 2020.”

 

Recording his new pieces has kept him plenty busy.

 

“The studio is about two hours away. I’ve been running back and forth to the studio to record and getting home in the wee hours of the morning,” he said. “I enjoy recording and working in the studio, but it’s hard work for the brain - you could say. Sometimes, your ears get a little bit tired of listening. Every ‘musical blemish’ and ‘musical wrinkle’ come through the microphone.”

 

When recording, it’s a must to bring his A-game to the studio, Pishner said.

 

“Once you record it and edit the recording, that’s it,” he said. “Above all, you really want to give the listener the best musical version of yourself.”

 

Pishner hopes anyone who listens to his musical pieces finds them to be nourishment for their faith and perhaps a little bit of light for any darkness they may be experiencing.

 

“To me, music is a divine gift and I think everybody needs to unwrap it, whether they sing, play or just listen,” he said. “Now is a good time to take it all in and celebrate, regardless of whether it’s Christmas or not.”

 

Altogether, approximately 30 digital platforms will be carrying some of Pishner's original music.