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PLATO & the Western Tradition

PLATO & the Western Tradition

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

All Episodes

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PLATO No. 10555 Imagination's Gallery

PLATO & the Western Tradition ·

2025/07/24

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded July 23, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0555, “Enchanted by Prophecy (Musical Chairs)” (David, Boyd Nutting, Evie Barton, Phil Ray, Marian Stetler-Emery, & Jon Yazell 9-17-94) 00:01-13:01, 29:02 42:02.

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PLATO No. 10554 Mystery Outside Structure

PLATO & the Western Tradition ·

2025/07/23

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded July 22, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0545, “Empty Rooms in the Palace of Memory, part 2” (David, & Marian Stetler-Emery 8-19-94) 00:01-13:01, 31:18-44:18.

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PLATO No. 10553 Restored Breath

PLATO & the Western Tradition ·

2025/07/22

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, with Ashley Sanders, recorded July 21, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: PLATO, No. 0535, “Graceful Instability” (David & Boyd, 7-15-94) 00:02-12:58. Boyd: Loops; PLATO, No. 1535, “Manifesto 1” (David & Boyd 3-16-07) 13:00-26:00, 49:00-62:00. Ashley: Percussion+Voice.

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PLATO No. 10550 Eloquent Feelings

PLATO & the Western Tradition ·

2025/07/22

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, with Ashley Sanders & Eric Lester, recorded July 21, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›GRII+ Melodeon; PLATO, No. 0525, “Strange Devices” (David, & Walter Wright, MIMF IV, No. 6, 6-18-94) 32:00-44:56. Boyd: Loops+Electronics; PLATO, No. 0255, “Buffalodreamfish, part 1” (David & Boyd 1-6-91) 13:00-26:00, 28:00-41:00. Ashley: Mouth Music+Percussion. Eric: Cello+Voice+Drumming.

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PLATO No. 10551 Clashing Silences

PLATO & the Western Tradition ·

2025/07/22

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, with Julie Soales, Ashley Sanders & Eric Lester, recorded July 21, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths+GRII; PLATO, No. 0515, “Vaudeville’s at the Flynn, part 3” (David, Boyd, Evie Barton & Phil Ray 6-14-94) 00:02-12:58. Boyd: Loops+Electronics; PLATO, No. 0511, “The Fires of Memory, part 1” (David & Boyd 5-1-94) 13:00-26:00, 32:00-45:00. Ashley: Crystal Bowls+Percussion. Eric: Drumming. Julie: Didgeridoo+Percussion.

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PLATO No. 10550 Eloquent Feelings

PLATO & the Western Tradition ·

2025/07/22

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, with Ashley Sanders & Eric Lester, recorded July 21, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Voice+M3 Drum-Set; PLATO, No. 0505, “Seeing in Darkness” (David, & Marian Stetler-Emery 4-15-94) 31:56-44:52. Boyd: Loops+Electronics; PLATO, No. 0105, “Over Midnight” (David, Boyd & Phil Ray 12/31/88-1/1/89) 00:00-13:00, 22:00-35:00. Ashley: Conga Drums+Percussion. Eric: Frame Drum+Percussion+Voice.

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PLATO No. 10549 Tender Ferment

PLATO & the Western Tradition ·

2025/07/22

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, with Ashley Sanders & Eric Lester, recorded July 21, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: PLATO, No. 0495, “Morphic Dreams, part 1” (David, & Boyd 3-19-94) 00:01-12:57. Boyd: Loops+Electronics.Ashley:Whistling+Per-cussion. Eric: Cello.

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PLATO No. 10548 Heart's Affections

PLATO & the Western Tradition ·

2025/07/22

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton & Boyd Nutting, recorded July 21, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd+PUSH—›Synths; TRbT Sample 216-1; Voice+Bell; PLATO, No. 0485, “Specters Come in Amity, part 1” (David, & Marian Stetler-Emery 2-4-94) 29:12-42:08. Boyd: Loops+Electronics.

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PLATO No. 10547 Liminal Openings

PLATO & the Western Tradition ·

2025/07/21

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded July 20, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0475, “Choirs of Angels, part 1” (David, & Boyd Nutting 12-26-93) 13:02- 26:02, 31:52-44:52.

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PLATO No. 10546 Footprints Become Notations

PLATO & the Western Tradition ·

2025/07/20

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded July 19, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0465, “Virtual Jungle” (David, Marian Stetler-Emery, & Kathy Kohn 11-12-93) 00:04-13:04, 31:56- 44:56.

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PLATO No. 10545 Spirit Clarity

PLATO & the Western Tradition ·

2025/07/19

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded July 18, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0455, “Suspended Time, part 2” (David, & Boyd Nutting 10-3-93) 00:02-13:02, 19:03- 32:03.

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PLATO No. 10544 Oracle Rhythms

PLATO & the Western Tradition ·

2025/07/18

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded July 17, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0445, “Runesmiths” (David, & Allan Hunchuk 8-5-93) 00:02-12:01, 31:43- 44:43.

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PLATO No. 10543 Undoing Darkness

PLATO & the Western Tradition ·

2025/07/17

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded July 16, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0435, “Camping Out at Truman’s” (David, Boyd Nutting, & Phil Ray 6-13-93) 00:01-13:01, 20:14-33:14.

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PLATO No. 10542 Muted Colors

PLATO & the Western Tradition ·

2025/07/16

New Music by David K. Barton, recorded July 15, 2025, PLATO’s PilotHouse, Michiana. PLATO, No. 0425, “Pastel Rhythms” (David, & Boyd Nutting 5-30-93) 00:02-13:02, 33:40- 46:40.

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PLATO No. 19541 Sky of Unspecified Desire

PLATO & the Western Tradition ·

2025/07/15

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton, Boyd Nutting & Ashley Sanders, recorded July 14, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths; PLATO, No. 0415, “Primordial Soup” (David & Boyd 5-3-93) 33:34-46:30. Boyd: Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 1994, “Moments of Grace” (David & Boyd 7-14-10) 06:26-09:43. Ashley: Drumming+Voice+ Percussion.

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PLATO No. 10540 Clouds Dissolving

PLATO & the Western Tradition ·

2025/07/15

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton, Boyd Nutting & Ashley Sanders, recorded July 14, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Voice+Kybd—›Synths+Melodeon; 1086d sample; PLATO, No. 0405, “Frills, Trills, Ruffles & Ruck #1” (David & Phil Ray 3-9-93) 00:02-12:58. Boyd: Electronics—›Processors; PLATO, No. 0410, “Interstellar Abyss part 1” (David & Boyd 4-4-93) 13:00-26:00. Ashley: Voice.

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PLATO No. 10539 Messengers of Mystery

PLATO & the Western Tradition ·

2025/07/15

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton, Boyd Nutting & Ashley Sanders, recorded July 14, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: PUSH+Kybd—›Synths+Recorder; PLATO, No. 0395, “The Benign Ambivalence of Angels” (David & Boyd 12-20-92) 33:12- 45:08; 0407 sample. Boyd: Theremin—›Vocoder—›Processors; PLATO, No. 0395: 24:38- 37:38. Ashley: Drumming.

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PLATO No. 10538 Planting Grief & Joy Seeds

PLATO & the Western Tradition ·

2025/07/15

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton, Boyd Nutting, Ashley Sanders, Eric Lester & John Nemes, recorded July 14, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: PLATO, No. 0385, “Invoking Hildegard” (David & Boyd 9-23-92) 00:04-13:00; 0407 sample. Boyd: Electronics—›Processors; Theremin—›Vocoder—›Processors; PLATO, No. 0385: 02:25- 15:25. Ashley: Rainstick+Voice+ Percussion. Eric: Voice. John: Didgeridoo.

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PLATO No. 10537 Off to BlueSky Perfection

PLATO & the Western Tradition ·

2025/07/15

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton, Boyd Nutting, Ashley Sanders, Eric Lester & Casey Kulscar, recorded July 14, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Voice+Zither+ Accordion Reeds. PLATO, No. 0375, “Experimental Vocalese” (David & Phil Ray 8-9-92) 11:37-24:33. Boyd: Electronics—›Processors; Theremin—›Vocoder—›Processors; PLATO, No. 0731, “Between Extremes” (PLATO+CONCRETE: David, Boyd, Andrew Lersten & Jon Yazell, MIMF VI, No. 9, 6-15-96) 00:00-13:00. Ashley: Voice+Percussion. Eric: Voice

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PLATO No. 10536 Overcoming Inherent Difficulties

PLATO & the Western Tradition ·

2025/07/15

Real-Time Improvisation by David K. Barton, Boyd Nutting, & Casey Kulscar, recorded July 14, 2025, PLATO’s Studio, Michiana. David: Kybd—›Synths; M3 DrumSet; GRII: ‘BillyJoel’ sample. PLATO, No. 0365, “Music for a Summer Evening” (David & Boyd 6-13-92) 00:04-13:00. Boyd: Electronics—›Processors; Theremin—›Vocoder—›Processors. Casey: Percussion.

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