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. 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.

PLATO No. 10805 Winning the Universe 16.12.2025 12:58

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded December 15, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: PLATO, No. 0815, “Doppelgänger 1” (David & Walter Wright 7-20-97) 09:25-22:25. Boyd: Theremin—›Vocoder, PLATO, No. 2335, “Covenant by Voice Spiritual” (David & Boyd 12-15-11) Tr -10.

PLATO No. 10804 Regions of Space 16.12.2025 13:02

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded December 15, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths+Yard Sample Set; PLATO, No. 0814, “Fading Images of Existent Objectivity 2” (David & Boyd 7-12-97) 00:07-13:07. Boyd: Theremin—›Vocoder, Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 0401, “White Winter Whispers part 1” (David, Boyd, & Evie Barton 2-14-93) 13:00-26:00, 32:00-4...

PLATO No. 10803 Oceanic Gradual 16.12.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded December 15, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths+Voice; PLATO, No. 0813, “Fading Images of Existent Objectivity 1” (David & Boyd 7-12-97) 32:07-45:07. Boyd: Theremin—›Vocoder, Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 0803, “Paradisio, after Dante, part 1” (David & Boyd 5-28-97) 13:00-26:00, 30:00-43:00.

PLATO No. 10802 Counterpoise… 16.12.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded December 15, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths+Voice; PLATO, No. 0812, “Deceptive Timelessness” (David, Boyd, Elizabeth Nutting, & ‘Vid Grande, Michiana Improvisational Music Festival VII, No. 9, 6-7-97) 02:33-15:20. Boyd: Theremin—› Vocoder, Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 0802, “Purgatorio, after Dante” (Da...

PLATO No. 10801 Between Cosmos and Being 16.12.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded December 15, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths; PLATO, No. 0811, “Crystalline Growth” (David, Boyd, Tim Backer, & ‘Vid Grande, Michiana Improvisational Music Festival VII, No. 7, 6-7-97) 28:43-41:43. Boyd: Theremin—›Vocoder; PLATO, No. 0801, “Inferno, after Dante” (David & Boyd 5-18-97) 13:00-26:00, 31:00-44:00.

PLATO No. 10800 Inaudible Poetry 16.12.2025 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded December 15, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: PLATO, No. 0810, “Encircling & Evading” (David, & ‘Vid Grande, Michiana Improvisational Music Festival VII, No. 6, 6-7-97) 08:22-21:22. Boyd: Theremin—›Vocoder, Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 1000, “PLATO & the Sufi Tradition” (David, Boyd, Evie Barton & Scott Hatt 5-16-99)...

PLATO No. 10799 Unknown Flowers 15.12.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded December 14, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0791, “Schoenberg Howls 1” (David, & Boyd Nutting 4-6-97) 00:03-13:03, 29:54-42:54.

PLATO No. 10798 Asleep with Roots 14.12.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded December 13, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1798, “Outside In” (David, & Boyd Nutting, 8-26-09) 13:06-26:06, 26:06-39:06.

PLATO No. 10797 Ignoring the Tocsin 13.12.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded December 12, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0977, “Ebony Bells” (David, Erin Taylor Young, & Chad A. Miller, 3-19-99) 13:47-26:47, 31:44-44:44.

PLATO No. 10796 Darkness & Light 12.12.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded December 11, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1697, “Inception” (David, solo, Spurious Fugitive Gallery 2-6-09) 00:10-13:10, 32:37-45:37.

PLATO No. 10795 Mega Churches 11.12.2025 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded December 10, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1795, “Technology in the service of religion” (David, & Boyd Nutting, 8-19-09) 10:42-23:42, 23:42-36:42.