PLATO & the Western Tradition

Uncategorized EN ↓ 500 episodes

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...

Author

PLATO & the Western Tradition

Episodes

PLATO No. 10755 Subtler Frame 19.11.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded November 18, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd+PUSH—›Synths; PLATO, No. 1755, “Infinite Noise Experiment” (David & Boyd Michiana Improvisational Music Festival XIX, No. 4, 5-29-09) 00:03-13:03. Boyd: Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 1755: 00:00-13:00.

PLATO No. 10754 Swifter Flight 19.11.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded November 18, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths; PLATO, No. 1754, “Leading by the Ear” (David, Boyd, Rickey Penden, & Joe Reed, Michiana Improvisational Music Festival XIX, No. 2, 5-29-09) 00:02-13:02. Boyd: Electronics—›Processors; Singing Bowl; PLATO, No. 0541, “Sweeping Heidigger's Hut part 2” (David & Boyd 8-1...

PLATO No. 10753 Unbodied Forms 19.11.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded November 18, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths+Recorder; PLATO, No. 1753, “Ramifications of Mechanical Desire” (David & Boyd, Michiana Improvisational Music Festival XIX, No. 1, 5-29-09) 00:05-13:06. Boyd: Electronics—›Processors; Ocarina+ Voice +Percussion; PLATO, No. 0351, “Colloquy” (David & Boyd 2-29-92) 03:0...

PLATO No. 10752 Desiigning Spirits 18.11.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded November 17, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1752, “The Intelligence Equation” (David, Julie Soales, & Boyd Nutting 5 -27-09) 00:06- 13:06, 13:06-26:06.

PLATO No. 10751 Serene Creation 17.11.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded November 16, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1751, “The Last Sunset” (David, & Boyd Nutting 5 -27-09) 00:04- 13:04, 16:17-29:17.

PLATO No. 10750 beginning with ending 16.11.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded November 15, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0750, “Warren Woods 6” (David, & Boyd Nutting 8-18-96) 00:03- 13:03, 30:58-43:58.

PLATO No. 10749 ending with beginning 15.11.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded November 14, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0749, “Warren Woods 5” (David, & Boyd Nutting 8-18-96) 00:02- 13:02, 30:48-43:48.

PLATO No. 10748 Breaths of Pity 14.11.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded November 13, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1748, “Sun Going Down” (David, Julie Soales, & Boyd Nutting 5-6-09) 13:07-26:07, 27:34-40:34.

PLATO No. 10747 Arcs of Flight 13.11.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded November 12, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0747, “ ‘Pataphorical Pilgrimage” (David, & Marian Stetler-Emery 8-1-96) 13:00-26:00, 30:53-43:53.

PLATO No. 10746 Armistice Day 12.11.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded November 11, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1746, “Va pensero” (David, & Boyd Nutting 4-29-09) 07:26-20:26, 20:26-33:26.

PLATO No. 10745 Steppin' Out, Smartly 11.11.2025 12:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded November 10, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths+Voice; PLATO, No. 1745, “Intelligent Dance Music” (David & Boyd 4-29-09) 00:03-12:03. Boyd: Electronics—› Loops—›Processors+Voice; PLATO, No. 0415, “Primordial Soup” (David & Boyd 5-3-93) 13:00- 26:00, 33:00-46:00.

PLATO No. 10744 Hidden Narrative 11.11.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded November 10, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths; PLATO, No. 1744, “alla turca, part 2” (David. Marie Fryar, Mike Ponder, Alper Ozcan (violin), Matt Mitchell, & Mike Reese 4-22-09) 20:04-33:04. Boyd: Electronics—›Loops—Processors; PLATO, No. 0441, “Shadow Players” (David, Boyd, & Evie Barton 7-4-93) 00:00-13:00, 30...

PLATO No. 10743 Rhetorical Gaming 11.11.2025 14:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded November 10, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd+Computer—›Synths+Planet Earth Beats; PLATO, No. 1743, “alla turca, part 1” (David. Marie Fryar, Mike Ponder, Alper Ozcan (violin), Matt Mitchell, & Mike Reese 4-22-09) 22:14-35:14. Boyd: Theremin+Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 0347, “Syllapsis part 1” (David & Boyd 2-16...

PLATO No. 10742 Avatars' Union Song 11.11.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded November 10, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: PLATO, No. 1742, “Shadow Catchers” (David & Boyd 4-22-09) 22:00-35:00. Boyd: Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 0412, “Resi-due of Memory part 1” (David & Boyd 4-18-93) 08:00-21:00, 33:00-46:00.

PLATO No. 10741 Erratic Delay Thing 11.11.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded November 10, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths; PLATO, No. 1741, “Discourse of Spirits” (David & Boyd 4-22-09) 02:23-15:23. Boyd: Theremin+Electronics—›KM Processors.

PLATO No. 10740 Erasing Sorrow & Woe 11.11.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded November 10, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths; PLATO, No. 1740, “Patterns & Ornaments” (David & Boyd 4-22-09) 00:08-13:08. Boyd: Theremin+Electronics—›Keith Meiere (KM) Processors.

PLATO No. 10739 Death's Peaceful Rules 10.11.2025 13:00

New Music by DavidK. Barton, recorded November 9, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1739, “The Afterglow of Creation” (David, & Boyd Nutting 4-15-09) 34:22-47:22, 47:22-60:22.

PLATO No. 10738 Insatiable Conquering 09.11.2025 13:00

New Music by DavidK. Barton, recorded November 8, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0738, “Lightning Music 2” (David, & Boyd Nutting 6-23-96) 29:54-42:54; with, PLATO, No. 1738, “TimePath” (David & Boyd 4-15-09) Tr -18.

PLATO No. 10737 Quivering Stones 08.11.2025 13:00

New Music by DavidK. Barton, recorded November 7, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0737b, “Lightning Music 1” (David, & Boyd Nutting 6-23-96) 00:20-13:20; with, PLATO, No. 1737, “Lulling the Rednecks to Sleep” (David & Boyd 4-15-09) Tr -5.

PLATO No. 10736 Enchanted Existence 07.11.2025 13:00

New Music by DavidK. Barton, recorded November 6, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1736, “Good Friday Spell 10, part 2” (David, Marie Fryar, Mike Ponder, Eli Kahn, & Matt Mitchell 4-10-09) 12:20-25:20, 25:20-38:20.

PLATO No. 10735 Unutterable Words 06.11.2025 13:00

New Music by DavidK. Barton, recorded November 5, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1735, “Good Friday Spell 10, part 1” (David, Marie Fryar, Mike Ponder, Eli Kahn, & Matt Mitchell 4-10-09) 00:06-13:06, 13:06-26:06.

PLATO No. 10734 Play of Pure Power 05.11.2025 13:00

New Music by DavidK. Barton, recorded November 4, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1734, “Eerie Vocal Quality, part 2” (David & Boyd Nutting 4-1-09) 13:01- 26:01, 48:19-61:19.

PLATO No. 10733 Enigmatic Representation 04.11.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded November 3, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: PUSH+Computer—›LIVE Synths; Kybd—› Synths; PLATO, No. 1733, “Eerie Vocal Quality, part 1” (David & Boyd 4-1-09) 00:04-13:04. Boyd: Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 0331, “Protreptikos part 1” (David & Boyd 12-15-91) 00:00-13:00.

PLATO No. 10732 Inaudible Voices 04.11.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded November 3, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: PUSH—›LIVE+LIVE: MIDI Group, Scenes 4 & 6; PLATO, No. 1732, “Time Spells” (David, Marie Fryar & Michael Reese, with Matt Mitchell, Guitar, 4-3-09) 37:32-50:32. Boyd: Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 0127, “Immortal Platitudes” (David & Boyd 3-19-89) 26:00-39:00.

PLATO No. 10731 Ciphers of Gravity 04.11.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded November 3, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths; PLATO, No. 1731, “Moments Out of Time” (David & Boyd 4-1-09) 43:22-56:22. Boyd: Electronics—›Processors+Percussion; PLATO, No. 1731: 13:00-26:00, 44:00-57:00.