Behind the Score: The Endless Enigma (ELP) | Reaction & Analysis by The Daily Doug (Episode 288) 

Take a look at either ELP's version of Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition," or their last major epic "Pirates," next, Doug!

I sat at a concert with a guy behind me who kept yelling "Endless Enigma! Endless Enigma!" I was so happy when they finally played the song. Love ELP

He didn't just write this shit, he had to play it LIVE every night for months on tour!

ELP is probably the greatest three man orchestra there was, and Greg Lake's songwriting is really underrated. The stuff he did with KC was fantastic, and his I Believe in Father Christmas is a standard on my holiday playlist.

When I was a kid my father listened to a lot of classical music and I didn't care much about it, but, a great but, ELP changed it for me, their approach to progressive rock music made re-think the classics, suddenly a new world opened before my ears and the classical realm began to make sense.

Greg has said the the lyrics are addressed to music journalists who constantly panned the group.

Keith was a genius. Hoping someone will get you to react to the 13 minute suite by U.K. 'In the Dead of Night'. It features one of the greatest guitar solos of all time and stellar keyboard work by Eddie Jobson, along with Bill Bruford on percussion and John Wetton on bass and vocals. It's just a phenomenal piece of music that I know you'll love to dissect.

You're getting closer and closer to my favorite ELP composition, title track *Trilogy* which introduces the 2nd side of the album of the same name. It features one of Carl Palmer's most impressive, most inspired drumming accompaniments. And, of course, some of Keith's most beautiful displays of his talent. And, of course, one of Gregg's most memorable vocal contributions. Looking forward to hearing you review it!

Keith took the avant garde of the 20th century and made it rock. Unbelievable.

As a classical guy and a prog rock guy, I feel like I’ve been waiting to hear the phrase “good, invertible counterpoint” in a discussion on prog rock my whole life. So good!

I love Greg Lakes vocals on this as much as the instrumentation

My guess is Keith Emmerson was actually a Jedi, hence his mastery of the 4ths BTW He has a piano concerto ... Certainly worth a listen

What a beautiful example of ELP’s fusion of Prog Rock and Classical music. Fugue shows abundantly and without any doubt the absolute genius and greatness of Keith Emerson, his compositions and masterful keyboard playing, especially on the grand piano.

Mr Helvering, I never heard an analysis so clear about a song that have always moves me so deeply. It is a double satisfaction.

I’ve always looked at Greg Lakes voice as One of the instruments. Wonderful music. Emerson Lake and Palmer has always been one of my favorites.

Trilogy was one of my favorite albums as a kid. Brilliant stuff.

Dear Doug, The brother who introduced this ELP album to me, took his life a few years. It means a lot that you are sharing it. Thank you ✌🙏☺

Doug, this is one of the greatest albums from this era. Pretty much every song is dripping with talent. Do yourself a favour and pour yourself a good glassful of your best grog and enjoy. You don't even have to share with us, but I/we really appreciate it when you do. It's so wonderful to have my favourite music analyzed and appreciated by someone like yourself.

Doug certainly goes into a deeper dive in this reaction. So he will be stopping quite a bit to get into detailed discussion. If you enjoy this deeper analysis from Doug, check his Behind the Score Series that can be found on his Patreon.

Man, if you like Emerson's stuff here, check out his "Piano Concerto No. 1" three parts on ELP's Works 1 album

Yes, you Must explore the rest of this album... especially the title track TRILOGY.

Wow, Doug you have worked out Emo’s background and influences! During his classical piano training he was heavily into Bach and point counter point, during his self taught period he was heavily into modern composers and American jazz, hence the dissonance. Greg Lake was in a choir as a youth and had guitar, a lot of it classical I recall, with the same teacher as Robert Fripp. If you listen to King Crimson’s in the Court of the Crimson King, especially 24 century schizoid man and then later on in I believe in Father Christmas you will see how Lake and his co-writer on many songs Pete Sinfield viewed modern life. Carl Palmer was jazz trained as a youth, had drumming lessons from - the Buddy Rich and graduated from the prestigious Royal Academy of Music in London where Rick Wakeman also went for two years. In the 70’s he won more best drummer awards than even the great John Bonham. Carl was seen as very inventive and technically probably the best. There was a lot of cross pollination between ELP and Yes, Lake and Squire were roommates, Emerson almost asked Steve Howe to play with him and Steve did ask Emo to join Yes. One often wonders if what you read is true, but I had several friends who knew ELP and Yes so I got to meet them many times and surprisingly what I had read in the 70’s turned out to be true. Both bands really respected each other, they were also friends with Zeppelin and they almost formed bands made up of all 3 groups and did form the pop-Progrock band ASIA. I wanted to give a big thanks to you for all your reviews, but also everyone who comments on all your videos. Everyone is so detailed, constructive and clearly loves the music and not really interested in the glamour. It really makes watching your videos so much fun. God, I could bore for England! 🤷🏼‍♂️🙄

I feel like I'm getting a university level music theory class for free!

Normally I would be frustrated that someone interrupted a video so often. However it is fascinating watching you dissect this masterful piece of music. You need to check out the Keith Emerson tribute with Rachel Flowers, Keith was a mentor and they had a unique relationship.Rachel is blind and played the middle piano part. Make sure you bring some tissues as it is a very emotional performance.

My favorite rock band of all time. Their music is so rich and complex, and yet accessible at the same time.

"Abaddon's Bolero" was the first track of ELP that blew my mind. I was a schoolboy at the time and playing my brother's LPs while he was at work. I later became more aware of their music and, for the most part, I loved it. "Abaddon's Bolero" isn't my favourite piece today, but it did switch me onto ELP's music, which lead me to their album: "Pictures At An Exhibition", which ultimately turned me on to Russian composers and then Classical Music in general.

Imagine, the young age of these guys. Like 19, 22, 24 years old when they formed in 1970! Hard to believe their depth at that young age.

I'd suggest listening to "Hoedown" from the same album. Its a rendition of Aaron Copeland's "Rodeo" and is just a killer track!

Maybe when you do some of these pieces where the composer is still alive, you can invite him/her onto the Daily Doug, as kind of a special guest. You would dissect the music, and every now and then the composer could add little bits. I'm sure that someone like Keith Emerson would have provided all sorts of musical tidbits in the music that nobody (i.e., rock journalists) ever asked about. It would have probably doubled the length of this episode, but I doubt anyone would complain about that. 8-)

Doug - I LOVE the analysis! Keith was my main keyboard hero growing up (being a piano player surrounded by guitards). It's great to hear the theory behind what I listened to at the time. BTW learning/performing 'Fugue' was one my triumphs while taking piano lessons.

It's generally understood that Greg was aiming the lyrics at music critics (I'm mainly looking at YOU, John Peel!) But that was a fun dissection, Doug. I have the same music book that this came out of. I actually have three ELP music books, which I'm guessing are collector's items at this point. Doug, if you want them they're yours. I'm a bassist and bought them out of love for ELP, but the idea that I'll ever spend the time to learn these songs is silly. Anyways, about Keith's love of 4ths, if you go back to his years with the Nice you'll hear the same voicings even back then. They've always been part of what makes his harmonic vocabulary so instantly identifiable (and copied.) But what makes Trilogy so special IMO is that the entire album is loaded with monumental compositions. Previous albums had some parts that rose to the level of Trilogy, but I personally consider it the zenith of the group's compositional and instrumental output.

Analysis, such analysis!! Seeing that sheet music and listening to your analytic breakdown is like a foreign language to me. Nowadays I don't know a half note from a paradiddle but I used to be able to read music when I played drums and percussion shortly after this ELP album was released. Since then, I have heard this album more times than I can count but I am just not used to interruptions. But I gladly welcome a brilliant mind analyzing a brilliant trio. I never cared a bit to understand the lyrics or musical compositions, just sit back and be entertained by masterful albums of my favorite classical rock, hard rock and metal. I am still laughing out loud at your reaction at 4:11, for me that is the ultimate compliment to my tastes in music. I am flattered that you are enjoying this new discovery so much. The only lyrics of ELP that I paid much attention to was 'Jerusalem', 'Lucky Man' and Greg Lake's 'Father Christmas'. Check 'em out!

Cool! The Endless Enigma blows me away every time I hear it. Even after 50 years!

I find myself so lucky to have lived my adolescence in the 70's to have been able to discover and appreciate their sublime music and to see them in live performance, what was fascinating was to see their great mastery of their musical precision. I no longer find such musical complexity today, except perhaps with Dream theater, Transatlantic or Liquid tension.

Wow! Thank you so, so much for featuring this piece of music! I am not a formally trained musician, but I have been a huge fan of ELP since the seventies and have really enjoyed their unique and highly complex, for a rock band that is, music. I was fascinated by your analysis and I’m really gratified by your reaction. As far as Greg’s lyrics, I may be oversimplifying, but I think he may be reacting to the music business at that particular time. So many in the business at that time simply didn’t “get” ELP’s music and I’m sure they were always pressured to write music that was more commercially palatable. Thank you again and please feature Pirates and other music in ELP’’s catalog. I am so looking forward to it!

This and Brain Salad Surgery are my favorites by them. Saw them as my very first Rock Concert in 1974. Stands as probably the best I ever saw (of many of the greats of that era until present).

And don't forget Pirates from Works 1, perhaps the last great tune that ELP did together...but all albums from 1970 till 1974 got music that has never be emulated. Keith Emerson was a genius.

YOU should also do the TRILOGY suite on the same album. Also, check "TOCATTA" from Brain Salad Surgery, it was a movement from a concerto by Alberto Ginastera.. (Argentinian, I believe)... Alberto told Keith, it was the most impressive adaptation of his music that he's ever heard..

Doug, As a concert percussionist and former choir director, I truly enjoy watching your show. You are awesome. But now that you’ve found ELP I love it even more. I’ve been listening to them since they premiered in 1970, you have so much to catch up with. Everything from them is sheer perfection. I’ve been trying to figure out Keith Emerson for over 50 years also ! A true genius, all three of them. So YESSSSS more ELP please 🙏🏽FYI, I just saw Carl Palmer and the ELP Legacy tour on November 11. Carl is definitely keeping the memory of Keith and Greg alive

Once again, So blessed we were to have this music to grow up on back in the 70's. It's cool to see a classical musician listen to this music for the first time and have it blow him away. Just think how we felt hearing it for the first time when we were 13 years old.

I think this song describes our situation right now really really well.

To me anyway, Greg Lake had the best rock voice of all time. His range was incredible. His voice was incredibly powerful, yet he could have that softness creep in to each song. I love prog rock and ELP, to this day, are my favourite band of all time.

this is fantastic. I was Greg Lake's last guitar tech/bass tech. 2010 till his death in 2016. Of course he didn't tour the last two years or so. I miss him incredibly, he was amazing to work for/with. Of course I do not and cannot "speak for Greg". That said --- i knew him very well and hE WOULD HAVE LOVED THIS !!! He really was so flattered and amazed that music he was involved in two generations ago (Crimson, ELP. solo work) was still being listened to, was still generating new young fans who would turn up at gigs.... he was humbled and blown away by that. He did a solo, acoustic version of the beginning bit of "Trilogy" on the last solo tours...it was amazing, and to your point -- THAT VOICE ......is so much of what Greg was about ( plus much more!)....but he sounded great doing this material, in 2010, 2012, 2014 etc. Keep up the excellent work!!!! I've seen a few of your great vids, I've been fortunate to work for a few of the artists you've analyzed. Check out my prog/fusion/rock/blues crew history at www.guitartour.net

One of Lake's best performances on bass. Love those scales in the Eb major bridge section of pt I

So happy you did this. My favorite episodes of yours are when there is a score to follow.

This is just sheer musical brilliance! I have been a die-hard fan for 40 years, and ELP's music still holds up on both a technical and emotional level. I'm so glad you're enjoying the music from the same multiple viewpoints. Greg's brilliant bass playing and his magnificent and powerful vocals are amazing!!! Great show!!!

ELP, Rush and Grand Funk got me through high school and college from 1981 to 1990. Endless Enigma was one of my favorite pieces. The great thing is most of my friends either dug ELP or grew to love them. Pirates off Works and the Live in Zurich version of Take a Pebble are just outstanding pieces of music.

The weird instrument that you mention in the beginning is called a Zoukra aka Zukra. Keith had to blow pretty damn hard to get those notes out of it. Many think it's a synth - it's not...

Fantastic composition and musicianship. The song Trilogy is ❤️ beautiful..

I am excited! This is one of my favourite songs by one of my favourite bands.

I love your reaction to the brilliance of Keith Emerson that I’ve been listening to for 45+ years!

I am crying as this is disected by Doug. I did see ELP in concert 2 times. But I listened to the Vinyl until it wore out and then on CD. Thank you Doug.

I've been asking for this "suite" every so often for a few months now, since Doug really started digging ELP. My older sister had this record, and from the time I was about 15 (circa 1976-77) I was hooked and this here is quite clearly my favorite ELP song. It's a Desert Island Song for me. Thanks, Doug -- and we all knew you'd like it!

Might have to start rating Doug's reactions by the number of 'Holy crap's that show up. Emerson is such an amazing pianist - it's easy to get caught up in all the organ and synth, but when he focuses on piano, it is breathtaking! Lake's bass work adds so much and makes all that keyboard melody work. And the drumming from Palmer - as precise as any drummer on earth, with the possible exception of Peart.

Why not react to Take a Pebble by ELP, from the album Emerson Lake and Palmer, go figure. Great song and instrumentals galore, well mainly piano instrumentals and then piano and drums. Could also do The Three Fates, amazing keyboards there and then Lucky Man, about their best song ever.

I always get a kick out of your dissections of these pieces; it's always entertaining and informative. This is one of my all-time favorites of ELP's...I first heard it in my teens and it blew me away...and it still does. I'm not 1/20th the musician that Emerson was (my stuff can be pretty proggy, but it's primitive by comparison), so I always wonder if he approached some of the odd twists and turns from a music theory basis, or if (like I usually do) he just was messing about with the piece and thought "oh...that sounds cool...I'll stick that in there".

Hi, Doug! From Moscow, Russia. Try "Living in the heart of the beast" by Henry Cow. For you weird Wednesday, it definitely fits! Keep up!

excerpted from another review; "The implication is that “the reason” is what Albert Camus proposed in “The Myth of Sisyphus”-that in an essentially absurd world, the struggle itself is the essence of life."

Had a friend over last week, and tried to get him to recognize the impossible genius of Memoirs, Pirates, and KE9. His eyes were opened wide, and he came to understand why I love this band above all others. I am lucky to have Derek Sherinian on a number of my songs as a hat tip to Keith. This song made me take notice of lyrical construct. Quite an album, from a truly extraordinary band.

Isn't it fun to see someone who's more of a musical geek than me (And most people) deconstructing music that has always blown my mind intuitively? I have new-found appreciation for ELP -- after 50 years' loving them.

Those first opening notes were played on a ocarina wind instrument. Keith mentioned in an interview that it was a real strain trying to hit those high notes.

Emerson,Lake & Palmer, Great Band!!!

*looks at length of video* oh hell yeah we diggin IN boys

It's perfectly simple: he was a musical genius. All you know and all you need know. Just listen and enjoy.

This piece and many other ELP songs really reaches me emotionally and intellectually and of course musically. I could really see how much this piece spoke to you too Doug. The ultimate peak of progressive rock...and very nearly any/all music ever created. ❤

Thanks so much for this Doug. I'm a huge ELP fan and saw their famous live show here in Montreal in 1977 at Olympic Stadium. I cant get enough of Tarkus, Endless Enigma and so many more masterpieces. Love your channel!!

This is great. I had a score for it in the late 90's and worked on it on my Hammond and Moog for 5+ years. Was a labor of love.

ELP is probably one of the most underrated bands in rock music.

My sis bought me this LP when it came out.I was a sophomore in HS.So not only a masterpiece of Music but a time very dear to my heart.Love you my carnala.Love ELP and thanks Doug.

"We must go back my friends." Almost like "Welcome back my friends..." 😎

i was in my teens sitting in my favorite lounge chair smoking my favorite ganja listening to this and i am 63 now and listening to you analyze this is choking me up so bad i had seen them 4 times and a lover of classical music there is something sacred about composers and music in general if not for music you could flush this society down the shitter and i would not blink whatsoever!

Wait till you get to Trilogy ( the piece ) also Abbaddons bolero. The latter piece you may find a little repetitive, but the layers he builds through out the piece are amazing. Great play Doug 👍👍👍

ELP at apogee. The coda makes my hair stand on end. Yeah, Doug, "Pictures at an Exhibition" is a must. I promise you will be enthralled. Unfortunately, and in my opinion, ELP lost their mojo after "Brain Salad Surgery". I feel they lost the edge they held early on and, sadly, I feel Keith was painfully aware of this, and it wore on him.

I saw them in concert six times. Pure genius.

Doug love u are getting into ELP. Been a fan since 1971/saw them 10 times including with the orchestra in July 77 at MSG in NYC. Check out rest of Trilogy my fave album.Met Emerson and Lake at Dorval airport in Montreal while working with US Customs. Emerson a gentleman.Palmer went through Customs at the NY border on his bus.

This one posted early! Awesome! Breakfast with ELP! 😎👍

Hey Doug! You can take as long as you need to make a video! I just love watching and listening to all your comments and see how you get so excited listening to ELP! They were on top of their game back then! Lucky for me..I grew up in the Prog. Era. ELP Yes Pink Floyd Genesis!! You just can't get any better music back then..! And no matter how many months and years have passed...you can still listen to it today and get caught up in each of these bands talents. It just never goes out of style

I've been listening to ELP or The Nice since 68, I'm glad you like it. That makes me feel good that something written 50+ years can still impress a person like yourself, and you show so much appreciation for these guys. Greg is a great vocalist and Carl Palmer is one of the greatest drummers.

May the fourths be with you!

Thank you for this wonderful analysis of another piece of music by ELP. Their music helped me survive the very challenging period of my life from ages 15 through 22 or so. And this song’s theme of resisting lies spoke directly to the challenge I had since I was much younger: knowing what was true on a world dominated by my malignant narcissistic father. His gaslighting of my mother, sister and I was made my life a living hell. I thank God for ELP’s help in dealing with living in such an emotionally challenging reality! And I thank you for helping your followers discover their music today. Here’s to the power of music to transform our lives! Merry Christmas!

OMG. I use to listen to Trilogy endlessly over & over. Priceless.

Doug, I'm SO glad you got to hear this. I wanted to recommend this a while ago but figured you'd have someone along the way suggest it. This is my favorite EP album and I do suggest 2 other songs from this album. First you need to hear "From The Beginning" . For my money it's among ELP's most beautiful songs, I can listen to that song forever and I believe you'll love it too. It's not a complicated song and Greg's vocals are sublime along with his acoustic guitar playing, it's a must. The finally you need to hit the title song "Trilogy". This is more in line with "The Endless Enigma" in its complexity and just as enjoyable. Lastly if you want to get back to some Renaissance that is on par with this you should hear "Opening Out & "Day of The Dreamer" from the album "A Song For All Seasons" (also for my money one of the most beautiful album covers I've ever seen) they go together even though they are listed as separate songs. Doug I'm telling you your going to enjoy these 2 as much as you did this and Annie's vocals in this song might bring you to tears. She sings during this beautiful middle section that you should listen to with Megan, it gives me chills just thinking about it. The piece is complex, beautiful and powerful. This for me was their last great record and should be at the top of your Renaissance listen list. Keep up the great work Doug and best wishes for great holiday and new year to you and Megan.

I knew you would love it! - Now look at material from the first album. The Three Fates, Take a Pebble, Tank.

I was such a fanatic about this album and group, that I trimmed my parents' trees to resemble those in the album. Those I didn't fix are still around, even thriving. Don't let your kids do your trees. Trilogy was probably my favorite song on the album, but this one, at the end, with the bells and horns, always reminded me of Christmas. Trilogy does too, actually. Thanks for looking under the hood and explaining how and why things work. Classical Zen.

Emerson preferred to be known as a composer, and I think that was his best talent. Yes he's great at playing too, but his notes, Lake's words and voice, and a tremendous talent, the remarkable Carl palmer with the percussion made these tremendous pieces, under appreciated in the classical world. Thanks for another Daily Doug view. I'm getting a lot from your divings.

What a great way to open the day. The score really helps to deepen my understanding of this fantastic piece - Thank You! Just my vote for 'Pictures at an Exhibition'. It's not the whole thing, and yes, great liberties were taken... even if you have heard it a hundred times, you haven't quite heard it like this!

Trilogy is my favorite ELP album. If you haven't sat down and listened to the entire thing, please do. It's all three at the heights of the powers. The song Trilogy is another Emerson masterpiece, and Living Sin? It's just nasty music! The album was released just before I began college as a Music Composition major, and we (friends and myself) tore the damn thing apart. Wonderful stuff

Absolutely loved this!! Thanks so much!!

I think your evaluation of the lyric is pretty spot on. I never felt in the many years of listening to this he was speaking to a particular person as much as speaking about a group of people, or a type of people. I don't know if he was speaking about all humans as much as he was speaking about a type of person. And you'd have to know Greg Lake to know what kind of person he was referring to, but he's passed.

Check out the live version of Toccata from Welcome Back My Friends…. Its origin is Ginastera. There’s a hell of a story behind that one.

The best vocal performance by anyone ever!!!!

Yes--more ELP!!

Ahh Trilogy. my favorite ELP record. i was first introduced to this track from my 6th grade music teacher who played it for the class and he wanted us to write down what we interpreted the music was conveying. been a fan ever since

This was my first elp album I bought in the early 1970s. Still love this song. Appreciate your comments on several other songs also. thanks

Hail to the great composers - Beethoven, Mozart, Bach, Liszt, and Keith Emerson.

I got this album in 1978 when I was 16,and it was my intro to the genius of ELP.

Enjoyed the BtS episode this morning, as Trilogy is my favorite ELP album (followed closely by the first), and where I thought their pursuit of blending classical and rock composition styles was most successful. (I always thought Lake was railing against the Church of England in this.)

Loved this piece when I heard it when I was 17, and I have to agree--this was the band at the cruising altitude of their individual and collective abilities. The analysis completely broadened the absolute brilliance of TEE and I wish to the Universe that Keith knew that and how much loved he was and how he is missed.

This is my favorite Piece that they have ever done. Everyone is just spot on

Doug knows the score.