Tarkus (suite)

The exact nature of Tarkus' origin and actions are unknown, and left ambiguous by its creator, Keith Emerson.

"[citation needed] When asked how Tarkus could be written so quickly (six days), Emerson said: Our sort of creativity comes in varying periods.

[6]Musically, the arrangement of the piece revolves primarily around Keith's Hammond organ, with extensive overdubs of piano and Moog synthesizer.

"Stones of Years" and "Mass" feature Hammond solos with "Mass" also featuring a clavinet-sounding Moog part, while "Aquatarkus" revolves around an extended "underwater" Moog solo over a martial rhythm (this final section would be greatly expanded on stage with the continued development of synth technology, as heard on 1974's live Welcome Back My Friends...).

The song, described by one journalist to be "about a post-apocalyptic, metal-plated, bionic armadillo outfitted with enough weaponry to wage perpetual solo warfare,"[7] remains a fan favourite and was consistently played at ELP, Keith Emerson Band and Carl Palmer band concerts.

Paul Stump, in his 1997 book The Music's All that Matters: A History of Progressive Rock, said the song "gets into its stride with a speedy, dissonant, syncopated keyboard-led theme over which further riffs, ideas and countermelodies are layered.

"[8] Cash Box said of the "Stone of Years" section that "eerie vocals and stunning organ/percussion interplay makes for exceptional outing.

[11] Emerson recorded a new instrumental version with Marc Bonilla, Terje Mikkelsen and the Munich Radio Orchestra, which appears on their 2012 album Three Fates under the title Tarkus – Concertante.