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. 10705 Musical Protagonists 21.10.2025 13:02

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton, Boyd Nutting, & Mark Magliola, recorded October 20, 2025, PLATO’s Studio,, Michiana. David: Yard-Sounds Sample; PLATO, No. 1750, “The Song of Life” (David & Boyd 5-20-09) 04:20-17:20. Boyd: CSNB+Electronics+ Theremin—›Processors; PLATO, No. 0507, “The Tectonics of Culture part 1” (David & Boyd 4-17-94) 13:00-26:00, 19:00-32:00. Mark: Voice+Flutes+Percuss...

PLATO No. 10704 Dramatic Landscapes 21.10.2025 13:10

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton, Boyd Nutting, & Mark Magliola, recorded October 20, 2025, PLATO’s Studio,, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths; PLATO, No. 1740, “Patterns & Ornaments” (David & Boyd 4-22-09) 03:27-16:27. Boyd: Crank Surgeon Noise Box (CSNB)+Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 0407, “Broadcast from the Belly of the Whale” (David & Boyd 3-14-93) 00:00-13:00, 20:00-33:00. Mark:...

PLATO No. 10703 Sleeping with Roots 20.10.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded October 19, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1730, “Moments in Time” (David, & Boyd Nutting 4-1-09) 26:04-39:04, 31:08-44:08.

PLATO No. 10702 No Kings Day 19.10.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded October 18, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0720, “Esoteric Fundamentalism 2” (David, & Boyd Nutting 5-5-96) 13:00-26:00, 20:02-33:02.

PLATO No. 10701 Raptor Rapture 18.10.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded October 17, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0117, “Bird of Prey” (David, Boyd Nutting, Evie Barton, & Phil Ray 2-18-89) 00:03-13:03, 30:02-43:02.

PLATO No. 10700 Inept Renovation 17.10.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded October 16, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0700, “Falling Up the Ladder” (David, & Boyd Nutting 2-21-96) 00:03-13:03, 32:04-45:04.

PLATO No. 10699 Last Stop 16.10.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded October 14, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1699, “Terminus” (David, solo, Spurious Fugitive Gallery 2-6-09) 26:07-39:07, 32:50-45:50.

PLATO No. 10698 Forbidding Geography 15.10.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded October 14, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1698, “Indomitable Terrain” (David, solo, Spurious Fugitive Gallery 2-6-09) 00:02-13:02, 28:10-41:10.

PLATO No. 10697 Cerberous Howls 14.10.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton, Boyd Nutting, & Mark Magliola, recorded October 13, 2025, PLATO’s Studio,, Michiana. David: Voice+Kybd—›Synths; PLATO, No. 0791, “Schoenberg Howls 1” (David & Boyd 4-6-97) 00:03-13:03. Boyd: Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 0791; 06:00-13:00 Tr -13, 32:00-43:00 Tr -4. Mark: Percussion+ Flute.

PLATO No. 10696 Ears, Stop Crying 14.10.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton, Boyd Nutting, & Mark Magliola, recorded October 13, 2025, PLATO’s Studio,, Michiana. David: Voice+Accordion Reeds+Kybd—› Synths; PLATO, No. 0691, “Chasing the Sun part 1” (David, Marian Stetler-Emery, Carol Miranda. & Tim Backer 2-2-96) 15:38-28:38. Boyd: Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 0313, “The Undiscovered Country part 1” (David, Boyd, Andrew Ler...

PLATO No. 10695 Heart of Stone 14.10.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton, Boyd Nutting, & Mark Magliola, recorded October 13, 2025, PLATO’s Studio,, Michiana. David: Voice+Kybd—›Synths+Rainstick; PLATO, No. 0591, “ 'Pataphysical Synthesis 1” (David & Boyd 12-29-94) 32:53-45:53. Boyd: Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 1695, “The Haven of Perfection” (David & Boyd 2-4-09) 00:00-13:00, 26:00-39:00. Mark: Bells+Flute+Percussion.

PLATO No. 10694 Persephone Weeps 14.10.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton, Boyd Nutting, & Mark Magliola, recorded October 13, 2025, PLATO’s Studio,, Michiana. David: Voice+Kybd—›Synths; PLATO, No. 0491, “Harding's Reels & Jigs No. 1” (David, & David Harding, viola 2-22-94) 00:03- 13:03. Boyd: Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 1694, “The Pillar of Remembrance” (David & Boyd 2-4-09) 00:00-13:00, 49:00-52:00. Mark: Flute+Percus...

PLATO No. 10693 Realm of Tears 14.10.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton, Boyd Nutting, & Mark Magliola, recorded October 13, 2025, PLATO’s Studio,, Michiana. David: Voice+Kybd—›Synths; PLATO, No. 0391, “The Pavilion in the Pentacle Garden” (David, & Allan Hunchuk 11-28-92) 17:31-30:31. Boyd: Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 0693 “Nimrod's Shadow” (David & Boyd 2-7-96) 00:00-13:00. Mark: Flute+Percussion+Crystal Bowl.

PLATO No. 10692 Riding the Dark Waves 14.10.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton, Boyd Nutting, & Mark Magliola, recorded October 13, 2025, PLATO’s Studio,, Michiana. David: Voice+PUSH—›Synths+New MIDI; PLATO, No. 0291, “Standing Waves part 1” (David & Boyd 6-26-91) 32:55-45:55. Boyd: Electronic—› Processors; PLATO, No. 0612, “Dreaming of Deep Time 2” (David & Boyd 3-27-95) 39:46-44:46. Mark: Flute+Percussion.

PLATO No. 10691 Subjective Splendor 13.10.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded October 12, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1190a & b, “Unnatural Beauty, parts 1 & 2” (David, & Boyd Nutting, 9-30-01) 1190a: 00:04-13:04, 1190b: 19:27-32:27.

PLATO No. 10690 Dream-Dance 13.10.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded October 12, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1096a & b, “Lucid Dream 1, parts 1 & 2” (David, Erin Taylor Young, & Katie Holtgren, 2-2-01) 1096a: 23:42-36:42, 1086b: 00:09-13:09.

PLATO No. 10689 Moving to Wind's Desire 12.10.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded October 11, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0891, “Post-Industrial Funk 2” (David, & Boyd Nutting, 3-29-99) 13:03-26:03, 18:12-31:12.

PLATO No. 10688 Unrelenting Cacaphony 11.10.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded October 10, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0618, “Hymns & Whispers 2” (David, & Boyd Nutting, 5-10-95) 13:00-26:00, 19:54-32:54.

PLATO No. 10687 Escaping Pain 10.10.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded October 9, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 3090, “ ‘Here Be Dragons’ “ (David, Boyd Nutting, & Jeff Campbell 10-09-14) 10:01-23:01: with, PLATO, No. 3091, “Testifying to the Magic” (David, Boyd Nutting, & Jeff Campbell 10-09-14) Tr -4

PLATO No. 10686 Minds in Hiding 10.10.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded October 9, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 3089, “Blood Moon Waning” (David, Boyd Nutting, & Jeff Campbell 10-09-14) Tr -4; with, PLATO, No. 3090, “ ‘Here Be Dragons’ “ (David, Boyd Nutting, & Jeff Campbell 10-09-14) 00:02-13:02.

PLATO No. 10685 The Road to Safety 09.10.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded October 8, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0586, “The Mind’s Endless Adventure, part 2” (David, & Boyd Nutting, 12-9-94) 00:01-13:01, 33:00-46:00.

PLATO No. 10684 The Door of Death 09.10.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded October 8, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0846, “Objects of Desire” (David, & Boyd Nutting, 11-2-97) 13:04-26:04, 20:06-33:06.

PLATO No. 10683 The Door of Madness 09.10.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded October 8, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1638, “Mythonomy 2” (David, Spurious Fugitive Gallery, 6-6-08) 00:02-13:02, 66:24-79:24.

PLATO No. 10682 The Door of Forgetting 08.10.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded October 7, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1286a & b, “Ghost in the Shell, parts 1 & 2” (David, Boyd Nutting, John. Richez, & Andrew Jackson, 2-4-04) 1286a: 00:05-13:05, 1286b: 32:04-45:04.

PLATO No. 10681 The Door of Sleeping 08.10.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded October 7, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1086a & b, “Dragon: Subject of the Art, parts 1 & 2” (David, & Boyd Nutting, 12-1-00) 1086a: 00:07-13:07, 1086b: 21:07-34:07.