When two Louis XIII glasses are clinked together for a toast, the motion produces a very distinctive sound—a clear-ringing G-sharp. Inspired by the note, the cognac brand invited pianist and composer Yaron Herman to create a piece of music that explores the depth and complexities that can be found in a single sound, just as one drop of Louis XIII cognac contains a multitude of flavors and aromas. The end result? One Note Prelude.
“The symphony has a complex simplicity. It’s just one note, but with many dimensions—and many revelations. The idea that one note, like one drop of Louis XIII, can evolve over time and reveal itself was something that I found fascinating” said Herman.
Courtesy of Louis XIII.
In a pioneering concept, the project called on the help of advanced robotics to perform a key part of One Note Prelude, embracing the brand’s practice of always thinking a century ahead. The symphony is comprised solely of the note G-sharp and unfolds with a string quartet playing parts in contrasting rhythms and octaves. As two violins, a viola, a piano, and a cello carry out the melody, harmony, and bass line, a robot holding a pair of cognac-filled glasses acts in time with the composition, moving its arms together to chime in with the perfect G-sharp.
“Tasting Louis XIII cognac is all about the aromas, the depth of flavors, the texture, and, of course, the sound,” said Ludovic du Plessis, the brand’s Global Executive Director. “When you toast two glasses together you get this long, drawn‐out note, which is part of the overall experience.”
Courtesy of Louis XIII.
Starting in April 2020, the robot will be displayed in Louis XIII boutiques all over the world, beginning with Singapore, Beijing, and Xi’an.
