Tarkus (suite)
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"Tarkus" is the title track of Emerson, Lake & Palmer's second album. The progressive rock epic clocks in at 20:35. It was the longest studio song by the band until the three impressions of Karn Evil 9 and their concert performances. The name "Tarkus" refers to the armadillo-tank from the William Neal paintings on the album cover. The song "Tarkus" itself supposedly follows the adventures of Tarkus from his birth, through a fight with a manticore, which he loses and concludes with an aquatic version of Tarkus named "Aquatarkus". The word 'tarkus' means wisdom in Estonian Language.
Tracks
"Tarkus" itself is broken down into seven parts:
- "Eruption" (instrumental) — 0:00 - 2:43
- "Stones of Years" — 2:44 - 6:28
- "Iconoclast" (instrumental) — 6:29 - 7:44
- "Mass" — 7:45 - 10:56
- "Manticore" (instrumental) — 10:57 -12:49
- "Battlefield" — 12:50 - 16:41
- "Aquatarkus" (instrumental) — 16:42 - 20:41
Personnel
- Keith Emerson: Moog modular synthesizer, Hammond Organ and Grand Piano
- Greg Lake: Bass, Electric Guitar, Acoustic guitar and Vocals
- Carl Palmer: Drums and Percussion
Tarkus Story
The parts supposedly follow Tarkus' birth in a volcanic eruption centuries before known history. The exact nature of Tarkus' actions are unknown, and left so by the creator, Keith Emerson. "Eruption" itself presents a musical impression of cascading eruption on the keyboards in an unusual 10/8 (4+3+3) time signature, backed by Carl Palmer on drums. This segues into "Stones of Years" the first of three vocal sections. "Iconoclast" comes next, which represents travel of tarkus, and is rapidly overpowered by guitar for "Mass". "Mass", filled with numerous religious references, often has its lyrics dropped in tours by the Keith Emerson Band, as does Stones of Years. This is followed by "Manticore" in which the enemy of Tarkus appears and a battle ensues between variations on the "Tarkus" theme and the manticore's. Ultimately, "Tarkus" is defeated and "Battlefield" follows — the only part written entirely by Greg Lake, containing some of the deepest lyrics of the album. "Aquatarkus" closes the track, centreing mostly on a march based on the "Battlefield" theme and then returning to the original "Eruption" theme as a farewell to Tarkus and a greeting to the aquatic Aquatarkus.
The Making of Tarkus
According to Emerson, while Palmer was excited by some of the technical opportunities the song would present, Lake was not quite so enamoured. However, Lake evidently did have the album grow on him, stating in an interview after the release: "It's about the futility of conflict expressed in [the] context [...] of soldiers and war. But it's broader than that. The words are about revolution that's gone, that has happened. Where has it got anybody? Nowhere." He has also complimented "Stones of Years" as one of his favourite parts of "Tarkus". though admits he is not entirely sure about what it means, but says it is about, "listening, understanding, hearing".
Reception
The song remains a fan favourite and was, and still is, consistently played at ELP, Keith Emerson Band and Carl Palmer band concerts.
"Stones of Years" was used as a single from "Tarkus". The album as a whole reached number 1 on UK charts and number 9 in the US.
Emerson, Lake & Palmer played a 27 minute version of Tarkus on Welcome Back, My Friends, to the Show That Never Ends... Ladies and Gentlemen, Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
In popular culture
Part of the song served as a background in Soviet film "Begstvo mistera Mak-Kinli" (1975).
In 2004, the Japanese classical pianist Aki Kuroda released an album with a classical adaptation of "Tarkus".
In 2007, Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess included a cover of this song in his solo album The Road Home, which consists mostly of covers of classic progressive rock songs.
See also
References