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Louis XIII de Rémy Martin Presents

Audio Sculpture KARITO at The United Nations

The King of Cognacs Celebrates the Genius of Composer and Artist David Barratt

New York, NY (September 25, 2008) – Louis XIII de Rémy Martin presents an audio

sculpture titled KARITO created by artist David Barratt. The sculpture will be installed

in the Visitors’ Lobby of the United Nations from October 15 to November 19, 2008.

Louis XIII’s support of this installation is part of the cognac’s dedication to recognizing

extraordinary projects around the world that embody emerging, contemporary creative

genius: artistic statements that are innovative and powerful.

Barratt created KARITO, the Esperanto word for love of your neighbor, as a meditation

on international community and identity. The audio sculpture was created from

interpretations of the 192 national anthems of the United Nations members nations

layered upon one another, projected simultaneously from multiple sound sources.

All anthems were recorded on six instruments, transposed into the same key.

The individual anthems meld together to create a greater whole when the pieces

of music are transmitted randomly to speakers around the space. The music has

no beginning or end, and every listener has a different experience of it based on

his or her position in the room.

“KARITO will serve as a vehicle for people to reconnect on the most basic level,

and we are honored to present David Barratt’s revolutionary artistic installation

,” said Michou Mahtani, Brand Director of Louis XIII de Rémy Martin . “We at

Louis XIII value ingenuity, craftsmanship and beauty and believe it is important

to recognize and applaud forms of emerging contemporary genius that invoke

these characteristics.”

- more -

Louis XIII is an intricate alchemy of 1,200 of the finest eaux-de-vie, aged 40 to

100 years, from the most prestigious growing region in Cognac. Three generations

of Cellar Masters preside over the making of a single bottle of Louis XIII. In

preserving the distinct character and delicate nuances of this rare treasure, it is the

Cellar Masters’ responsibility to be at once a craftsman, an artist and a visionary.

The result is truly an act of genius, and it is in this spirit that Louis XIII de Rémy Martin

continues to celebrate other types of creative genius in the modern world.

Karito at the United Nations is presented by Louis XIII de Rémy Martin in cooperation with

the United Nations Department of Public Information. For more information on Louis XIII

de Rémy Martin, please visit www.remy.com and for more information on KARTIO and the

upcoming installation in the North East Gallery Visitors’ Lobby at the United Nations,

please visit www.karito.org.

About Louis XIII de Rémy Martin

Louis XIII de Rémy Martin is blended from 1,200 eaux-de-vie aged up to 100 years in

specially crafted barrels called tierçons. Three generations of cellar masters have worked

to create the unique blend of myrrh, honey, immortelle, plum, honeysuckle, wood bark,

leather and passion fruits, making it the most complex and most prestigious cognac in

the world. Louis XIII was born in 1874 from the rich soils of Grand Champagne, the

best growing area of the Cognac region, France.

Nicknamed the “King of cognacs” not only because of its namesake but because it

has long been the cognac of Kings, Louis XIII has reigned in grand royal and imperial

courts and sailed on many of the world’s great voyages. Served to Queen Elizabeth

in 1938 and enjoyed by Winston Churchill in 1948, Louis XIII has been savoured

by great leaders throughout history. Today, Louis XIII is among the most coveted

luxury brands, favored by royalty, dignitaries and celebrities around the world.

About KARITO

KARITO is an audio sculpture made from interpretations of the 192 national anthems

of the member states of the United Nations layered upon one another, projected

simultaneously from multiple sound sources. The position of the listener determines

which instrument comes to the fore and which becomes background. The music,

unlike most composed pieces, does not have a beginning, middle or end and is

not constant. The random selection of instruments and themes from the various

sound sources (CD and mp3 players) makes it impossible to predict what will happen next.

The random juxtaposition of the various themes creates a new piece, the structure

and tone of which are determined by the listener's relative position within the audio

sculpture at any particular time. No two listeners will experience the same piece in

the same way.

KARITO is the Esperanto word meaning “love of one’s neighbor.” www.karito.org.

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posted by David Barratt # 7:07 AM

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