Author Archives: The Mighty Thunderer

About The Mighty Thunderer

We write about music, audio, and technology. Like the namesake of this blog, Ludwig van Beethoven, we are hammer of polite society. We will point out the absurd and educate on the sublime...

Mahler’s glimpse of the eternal

Posted on October 23, 2022 by The Mighty Thunderer

Forty years ago, a mere lad of 25, I was already a veteran classical music and jazz fanatic. I bought LPs, attended classical concerts with the Miami Philharmonic, recitals by some pretty great pianists, operas, and heard great jazz at … Continue reading →

Posted in Classical Music, Music | 2 Comments

June 29, 2007

Posted on June 29, 2022 by The Mighty Thunderer

The essay below was originally published on February 23, 2008, a week after I had purchased my first iPhone. Since today is the 15th anniversary of the introduction of the amazing iPhone, I thought we’d update the post a bit … Continue reading →

Posted in Macs and PCs | 2 Comments

The “Pied Piper” as allegory in The Sweet Hereafter

Posted on July 2, 2021 by The Mighty Thunderer

I’ve been a fan of Atom Egoyan’s movies for years, especially Exotica (1994) and The Sweet Hereafter (1997). The Sweet Hereafter is an adaptation of Russell Bank’s novel. The film uses the poem “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” by Robert … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinephilia | Leave a comment

Our insane times…

Posted on February 28, 2021 by The Mighty Thunderer
Posted in Classical Music | Leave a comment

December 16, 1770

Posted on December 16, 2020 by The Mighty Thunderer

Today we celebrate Ludwig van Beethoven’s semiquincentennial. Born 250 years ago, on December 16, 1770, the namesake of this blog, the “mighty thunderer,” was quite possibly the greatest musical genius that ever lived. He changed the course of Western music. … Continue reading →

Posted in Classical Music | 1 Comment

Beethoven 250 | A sampler of his great works

Posted on December 1, 2020 by The Mighty Thunderer
Posted in Classical Music | Leave a comment

December 16, 1770

Posted on December 16, 2019 by The Mighty Thunderer

The man that was born on this date in the year of our Lord 1770, the namesake of this blog, Ludwig van Beethoven, the “mighty thunderer,” quite possibly the greatest musical genius that ever lived, changed the course of Western … Continue reading →

Posted in Classical Music | Leave a comment

Is classical music racist?

Posted on July 29, 2019 by The Mighty Thunderer

About a month ago I was sent an article entitled “It’s Time To Let Classical Music Die” on New MusicUSA. In essence, the article posits that classical music, due to its establishment in “white” and mostly “male” enclaves is inherently … Continue reading →

Posted in Classical Music | 2 Comments

July 16, 1989

Posted on July 16, 2019 by The Mighty Thunderer

“Karajan ist tot.” Thirty years ago today, one of the musicians largely responsible my love of classical music — symphonic music and opera, in particular — died. Herbert von Karajan is the greatest conductor of the twentieth century, unmatched in … Continue reading →

Posted in Classical Music, Recordings | Leave a comment

Sound Advice has left the building…

Posted on August 28, 2018 by The Mighty Thunderer

Sound Advice, an audio and video retail fixture in South Florida, is dead — again. The Boca Raton store of the current incarnation closed in early 2017; Pinecrest was shuttered around the middle of October 2017; the last remaining store … Continue reading →

Posted in Audiophilia, Cinephilia | 1 Comment