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. 11078 Alchemical Forgery 27.05.2026 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded May 26, 2026, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1078a, “The Emerald Tablet of Hermes, part 1”, 00:36-13:36; with, PLATO, No. 1078b, “The Emerald Tablet of Hermes, part 2”, 00:09-12:25 Tr -1 (both: David, Boyd Nutting, & ‘Vid Grande, Laboratorium II, 7-19-00).

PLATO No. 11077 Nothing But Arrival 26.05.2026 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded May 25, 2026, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths (19-tone+12-tone tunings); PLATO, No. 1077, “The Philosophick Work (Laboratorium 1)” (David & ‘Vid Grande 7-19-00) 00:03-13:03. Boyd: SERGE+VCV Rack; PLATO, No. 1717, “The Vortex of Mastery” (David & Boyd, 3-11-09) 13:00-26:00, 34:00-47:00.

PLATO No. 11076 Sleep-Drunk Citizens 26.05.2026 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded May 25, 2026, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths (19-tone tuning); PLATO, No. 1076, “The Golden Game (Prologue to Laboratorium)” (David & ‘Vid Grande 6-26-00) 20:59-33:59. Boyd: VCV Rack; PLATO, No. 1761, “Casting the Bones” (David & Boyd, Michiana Improvisational Music Festival XIX, No. 10, 5-30-09) 00:00-13:00, 13:00-...

PLATO No. 11075 Plentiful Vaguenesses 26.05.2026 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded May 25, 2026, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: PUSH—›LIVE Instruments; 16 Formant Sequence; PLATO, No. 1751, “The Last Sunset” (David & Boyd, 5-27-09) 00:04-13:04. Boyd: VCV Rack; PLATO, No. 1750, “Song of Life” (David & Boyd 5-20-09) 03:00-11:00 Tr -9, 17:00- 30:00.

PLATO No. 11074 Dark Cessation of the World 26.05.2026 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded May 25, 2026, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: PLATO, No. 1074, “The Beetle on the Empty Throne” (David, Boyd, & Scott Hatt, Michiana Improvisational Music Festival X, No. 13, 6-11-00) 07:46- 20:46. Boyd: VCV Rack; PLATO, No. 1741, “Discourse of Spirits” (David & Boyd 4-22-09) 00:00-13:00, 11:00-24:00.

PLATO No. 11073 Clouds Cover Stars 26.05.2026 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded May 25, 2026, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths+PUSH—›LIVE Instruments; 16 Scrap 2 Sequence; PLATO, No. 1073, “Adrift in the SunBoat” (David, Boyd, Andrew Lersten, Dennis Leas, & Thierry Kaufman, Michiana Improvisational Music Festival X, No. 12, 6-11-00) 24:18-37:18. Boyd: Serge+VCV Rack; PLATO, No. 1731, “Moments out...

PLATO No. 11072 Night Winds 26.05.2026 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded May 25, 2026, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths+PUSH—›LIVE Instruments; 17 Meditation Sequence; PLATO, No. 1072, “Wings of Light 2” (David, & Scott Hatt, Michiana Improvisational Music Festival X, No. 11, 6-11-00) 08:06-21:06. Boyd: SERGE+ VCV Rack; Radius Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 7319, “The Age of Feuilleto...

PLATO No. 11071 Moon-Lit Rain 25.05.2026 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded May 24, 2026, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1071, “Wings of Light 1” (David, & Scott Hatt, Michiana Improvisational Music Festival X, No. 10, 6-11-00) 00:05-13:05, 13:05-26:05.

PLATO No. 11070 Carnival of Fools 24.05.2026 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded May 23, 2026, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1070b, “Carnival” (David, Boyd Nutting, Andrew Lersten, Scott Hatt, Dimitri Lemay, Walter Wright, Bill Romanowski, & Genadi Zagor, Michiana Improvi-sational Music Festival X, No. 9, 6-10-00) 13:03-26:03, 19:06-32:06.

PLATO No. 11069 Lunar Landscape 23.05.2026 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded May 22, 2026, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1069, “Opener of the Day” (David, Boyd Nutting, Dimitri Lemay, Walter Wright, & Bill Romanowski, Michiana Improvisational Music Festival X, No. 7, 6-10-00) 13:03-26:03, 19:06-32:06.

PLATO No. 11068 Moon-Set 22.05.2026 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded May 21, 2026, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1068, “Closer of the Night” (David, Boyd Nutting, Dimitri Lemay, & Bill Romanowski, Michiana Improvisational Music Festival X, No. 6, 6-10-00) 13:03-26:03, 18:14-31:14.

PLATO No. 11067 Mirrored in Waters 21.05.2026 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded May 20, 2026, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths; PLATO, No. 1067, “Trying to rescue a god” (David, Boyd, Dimitri Lemay, & Walter Wright, Michiana Improvisational Music Festival X, No. 5, 6-10-00) 00:03-13:03. Boyd: SERGE—›VCV Rack; PLATO, No. 10067, “Fire-Ladder up to Water” (David, solo, 10-13-24).

PLATO No. 11066 Sun-lit Moon 21.05.2026 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded May 20, 2026, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths+Accordion Reeds+Voice, PLATO, No. 1066, “The Eye of Horus” (David, & Scott Hatt, Michiana Improvisational Music Festival X, No. 4, 6-10-00) 00:02-13:02. Boyd: SERGE—›VCV Rack; PLATO, No. 10066, “Defying Gravity” (David, solo, 10-12-24).

PLATO No. 11065 Guard the Harbor 21.05.2026 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded May 20, 2026, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths, PLATO, No. 1065, “Dreamscape II The Western Land” (David, Boyd, Evie Barton, & Dimitri Lemay, Michiana Improvi-sational Music Festival X, No. 3, 6-9-00) 33:03-46:03. Boyd: Radius Electronics—›Pro-cessors; PLATO, No. 1560, “Shadow Dirge” (David, Boyd, Walter Wright, Andre...

PLATO No. 11064 Towering Lighthouses 21.05.2026 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded May 20, 2026, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths, PLATO, No. 1064b, “CONCRETE: The Lords of the Fire” (Boyd & Andrew Lersten, Michiana Improvisational Music Festival X, No. 2, 6-9-00) 33:14-46:14. Boyd: Radius Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 0416, “Blossom-time Parade”(David & Boyd 5-3-93) 38:00-45:00 Tr -11.

PLATO No. 11063 After Accomplished Night 21.05.2026 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded May 20, 2026, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: PLATO, No. 1063, “Dreamscape” (David, solo, 5-31-00) 42:13-:57:13. Boyd: Guitar—›Processors; PLATO, No. 1062, “Semblance, part 2” (David & Boyd 5-20-00) 18:00-31:00.

PLATO No. 11062 Morning Awaits Sunrise 21.05.2026 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded May 20, 2026, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths, PLATO, No. 1062, “Semblance part 2” (David, & Boyd 5-20-00) 00:03-13:03. Boyd: Radius Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 1062: 34:00-47:00.

PLATO No. 11061 New Moon Ritual 20.05.2026 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded May 19, 2026, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1061, “Semblance part 1” (David, & Boyd Nutting 5-20-00) 00:00-13:00, 20:36-33:36.

PLATO No. 11060 Lunar Majesty 19.05.2026 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded May 18, 2026, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1060, “B-Field Ear part 2” (David, Boyd Nutting, & Scott Hatt 5-13-00) 00:12-13:12, 21:36-34:36.

PLATO No. 11059 Solar Incandescence 18.05.2026 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded May 17, 2026, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1590a, “Storm Masons, part 1”: 10:04-23:04; with, PLATO, No. 1590b, “Storm Masons, part 2”: 00:04-13:04 (both: David, & Boyd Nutting 11-20-07).

PLATO No. 11058 Solar Incantations 17.05.2026 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded May 16, 2026, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1850, “Alien Identity Theft”: 00:00-13:00; with, PLATO, No. 1851, “Auditory Allusions”: 00:00-12:16 Tr -1 (both: David, & Boyd Nutting 11-25-09).

PLATO No. 11057 Solar Synthesis 16.05.2026 13:00

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded May 15, 2026, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 1751, “The Last Sunset” (David, & Boyd Nutting 5-27-09) 00:04-13:04, 13:04-26:04.

PLATO No. 11056 Attenuated Tonalities 15.05.2026 13:03

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded May 14, 2026, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths; PLATO, No. 1056, “Alien Symphony” (David & Boyd 3-31-00) 00:04-13:04. Boyd: SERGE—›VCV Rack; PLATO, No. 1056: 47:00-60:00, 61:00-73:00-Tr -2.

PLATO No. 11055 Flickering Heroism 15.05.2026 13:01

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded May 14, 2026, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths+Harmonica; PLATO, No. 1055, “Fine-Grained Intuitions” (David, Boyd, & ‘Vid Grande 3-24-00) 00:12-13:12. Boyd: SERGE—›VCV Rack; Radius Electronics—›Processors.

PLATO No. 11054 Unquiet Seas 15.05.2026 13:00

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded May 14, 2026, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths; PLATO, No. 1054, “Aural Halluc-inations” (David, & Boyd 3-17-00) 00:07-13:07. Boyd: Radius Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 1450a & d, “Phoenix Song, parts 1 & 4” (David & Boyd 5-17 & 5-24-06) Part 1:Tr -8, Part 4: 18:00-31:00.