PLATO & the Western Tradition

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PLATO & the Western Tradition is a Postmodern Improvisation Ensemble that has been recording real-time improvisations using electronic and acoustic instruments since 1988. The founders and core members are David K. Barton of South Bend, Indiana, and Boyd Nutting of Niles, Michigan. As of December 4, 2016, we have recorded 4,054 improvisations, and would like to share our music. PLATO & The Western Tradition invites others in the Electronic Music Community to participate in the creation of an on-line compilation called “Weaving Indra’s Net”. Here are the “rules”:1. Download from http://www.soun...

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PLATO & the Western Tradition

Episodes

PLATO No. 10830 Manipulating Data 01.01.2026 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded December 31, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO No. 1830, “Exploring the Wilderness” (David, & Boyd Nutting 10/28/09) 13:33-26:33, 26:33-39:33.

PLATO No. 10829 All is Fair… 31.12.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded December 30, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths+Recorder; PLATO, No. 10205, “Mystic Bonfire” (David & Boyd, 12-30-24). Boyd: Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 1029, “Preludium” (David & Boyd 10-28-09) Tr -4 {10205: David: PUSH —› LIVE+Voice+Accordion Reeds; PLATO, No. 0205a Remembering the Future (D&B 4-11-90) 0...

PLATO No. 10828 Measured by Fate 31.12.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded December 30, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths; PLATO, No. 10204, “Pathways & Gates” (David & Boyd, 12-30-24). Boyd: Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 0821, “Monogram of Memory part 2” (David & Boyd 8-2-97) 13:00-26:00, 31:00-44:00. {10204: David: Kybd—›ACE+Voice+Accordion Reeds; PLATO, No. 0204 The Future-shoc...

PLATO No. 10827 The Span of Time 31.12.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded December 30, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Voice+Bell; PLATO, No. 10203, “Geometric Fog” (David & Boyd, 12-30-24). Boyd: Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 1872, “Tria-dic Memories” (David & Boyd 1-15-10) 13:00-26:00, 30:00-43:00. {10203: David: Kybd—› ACE+ Voice+Bell; PLATO, No. 0203 Plato's New Toys part 2 (David & Boy...

PLATO No. 10826 Inconceivably Distant 31.12.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded December 30, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths; PLATO, No. 10202, “Lunar Stillness” (David & Boyd, 12-30-24). Boyd: Theremin—›Processors; PLATO, No. 1862, “Meta-Acoustic Chaos” (David & Boyd 12-16-09) 39:00-52:00, 61:00-74:00. {10202: David: Kybd—›Synths+ACE; PLATO, No. 0202 Plato's New Toys part 1 (David & Boyd...

PLATO No. 10825 Among the Stars 31.12.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded December 30, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths; PLATO, No. 10201, “Forest of Candles” (David & Boyd, 12-30-24). Boyd: Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 0215, “Truth Revealed by Time, part 3” (David & Boyd 5-28-90) 13:00-26:00, 17:00-30:00. {10201: David: Kybd—›Synths; Planet Earth Samples; PLATO, No. 0201 Doubl...

PLATO No. 10824 Learning from the Present 31.12.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded December 30, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths+LIVE MIDI; PLATO, No. 10200, “Unfathomable Echoes” (David & Boyd, 12-30-24). Boyd: Guitar—›Processors+ Loops. (10200: David: Kybd+PUSH—›Synths+ACE. PLATO, No. 0200 Blank Formatted Diskette (David, Donald McLaughlin 3-31-90) 30:46- 43:46. Boyd: Guitar—›Electronics+Loo...

PLATO No. 10823 Tender Intensity 29.12.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded December 28, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0823, “Approaching Nothingness” (David, & Boyd Nutting 8-7-97) 00:03-13:03, 18:17-21:17.

PLATO No. 10822 Out in the World 28.12.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded December 27, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1822, “Tuning the Psychic Faire” (David, & Boyd Nutting 10-17-09) 00:05-13:05, 49:38-62:38.

PLATO No. 10821 Enthroned Muses 27.12.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded December 26, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1812, “Subliminal Horizon” (David, & Boyd Nutting 9-30-09) 00:05-13058, 19:48-32:48.

PLATO No. 10820 Do What You Can 26.12.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded December 25, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 5102, “Medieval Polygamy Turntable (for Boyd)” (David, solo, 12-25-17) 00:03-13:03, 25:54-38:54. {5102 time-folds Plato, No. 4169, “Petulant Child (DJT)” (David & Boyd Nutting 2-2-17) 00:00-39:00, 08:10-47:10.}

PLATO No. 10819 Past Time 25.12.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded December 24, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0588g, “Eve of the Nativity” (David, solo, Advent Rhapsody No. 11, 12-24-94) 13:02-26:02, 18:43-31:43.

PLATO No. 10818 Exhorting Lasting Powers 24.12.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded December 23, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1818, “The Paperwork of Love” (David, Boyd Nutting, Julie Soales, & Eric Lester 10-14-09) 08:38-21:38, 21:38-34:38.

PLATO No. 10817 Strange Encounters 23.12.2025 12:54

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded December 22, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths; PLATO, No. 1817, “Epiphanic Epistemology” (David, Boyd, & Eric Lester 10-14-09) 00:09-13:09. Boyd: Theremin+ Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 1710, “The Pyramid of Blessings” (David & Boyd 3-4-09) 00:00-13:00, 09:00-22:00.

PLATO No. 10816 Thorough Transformation 23.12.2025 12:54

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded December 22, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd+PUSH—›Synths; PLATO, No. 1816, “Acoustic Morphology” (David, Omar Cherry, Jesse Harms, Matt Mitchell, & Mike Ponder 10-9-09) 57:52-70:52. Boyd: Theremin+Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 1851, “Auditory Allusions” (David & Boyd 11-25-09) 00:00-13:00, 11:00-24:00.

PLATO No. 10815 Enhanced Predation 23.12.2025 13:12

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded December 22, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths+Voice+’Laps’ & ‘0598c’ samples; PLATO, No. 1815, “Club Mix” (David, Boyd, Julie Soales, & Eric Lester 10-7-09) 00:07 13:07. Boyd: LittleBits Oscillator—›KM Module—›Processors; PLATO, No. 0511, “The Fires of Memory part 1” (David & Boyd 5-1-94) 13:00-26:00.

PLATO No. 10814 Peals from Dark Belfries 23.12.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded December 22, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd+PUSH—›Synths+LIVE MIDI; PLATO, No. 1814, “Madmen in the Woods” (David, Boyd, & Julie Soales 10-7-09) 34:00-47:00. Boyd: Electronics—›Processors; ‘Praise My Soul’ Sample; PLATO, No. 1048, “MM Music” (David & Boyd 1-1-00) 26:00-39:00, 39:00-52:00.

PLATO No. 10813 Expanding Space 23.12.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded December 22, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: PLATO, No. 1813, “The Sign of the Three” (David, Boyd, & Eric Lester 9-30-09) 00:01-13:01. Boyd: Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 0056, “Stockhausen in the Streets” (David, Boyd, & Phil Ray 8-14-88) 22:00-35:00; PLATO, No. 1830, “Exploring the Wilderness” (David & Boyd 10-28-0...

PLATO No. 10812 Distant Friends Breathe 23.12.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded December 22, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd+PUSH—›Synths+Voice; PLATO, No. 1812, “Subliminal Horizon” (David & Boyd 9-30-09) 32:43-45:43. Boyd: LittleBits Oscillators—›KM Ring Modulator—›Processors—Looped; PLATO, No. 1812: 13:00- 26:00, 32:00-45:00.

PLATO No. 10811 Personal Avatars 22.12.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded December 21, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1110, “Consulting the Surreal” (David, solo, Michiana Improvisational Music Festival XI, No. 1, 6-8-01) 00:06-13:06, 26:38-39:38.

PLATO No. 10810 Subversive Avatars 21.12.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded December 20, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1108, “Laboratorium XIV Darkness: the Artist must Cut Off the Raven’s Head by Washing it with Fire”” (David, & Boyd Nutting 5-11-01) 13:12-26:12, 50:06-63:06.

PLATO No. 10809 Unionized Avatars 20.12.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded December 19, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1890, “Hidden Deities Beckoning” (David, & Boyd Nutting 2-24-10) 09:15-22:51, 22:51-35:51.

PLATO No. 10808 Choirs of Avatars 19.12.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded December 17, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1880, “exivit sonus…” (David, & Boyd Nutting 2-3-10) 00:05- 13:05, 13:05-26:05.

PLATO No. 10807 Avatars Cooperating 18.12.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded December 17, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1708, “The Toyshop of Creation” (David, & Boyd Nutting, 2-25-09) 13:03-26:03, 32:55-45:55.

PLATO No. 10806 Compatible Avatars 17.12.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded December 16, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1608, “Convoluted Methods of the Mechanic Phylum” (David, & Boyd Nutting, 2-28-08) 00:06-13:06, 33:09-46:09.