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Ainulindalë

Ainulindalë, commonly translated as the Music of the Ainur, is the opening creation myth of J. R. R. Tolkien’s legendarium. It appears as the first part of The Silmarillion and outlines the cosmogony of Tolkien's universe, describing the creation of Arda (the world) by Eru Ilúvatar through the musical contribution of the Ainur, a group that includes the Valar and lesser divine beings.

In the narrative, Ilúvatar invites the Ainur to bring forth into sound the themes in his thought.

The Ainur descend into Arda to prepare it for the inhabitants who will later live there. The

Ainulindalë is the first part of the Silmarillion and was published posthumously in 1977, edited by Christopher

They
improvise
a
great
symphony
whose
harmony
and
complexity
reflect
his
mind.
Some
melodies
symbolize
acts
of
creation,
others
the
governance
of
the
world.
Among
the
Ainur,
Melkor,
later
known
as
Morgoth,
introduces
discord
and
opposition
to
the
themes.
His
attempts
to
alter
the
music
fail
to
stop
the
overall
design,
for
Ilúvatar
reveals
that
discord
can
enrich
the
music
and
that
a
new
theme
will
be
woven
into
the
pattern
to
give
meaning
to
the
conflict.
The
result
is
the
making
of
Arda,
a
universe
in
whom
Ilúvatar's
plan
will
unfold,
with
the
coming
of
the
Valar
to
shape
the
world
and
the
awakening
of
the
Children
of
Ilúvatar.
prologue
establishes
central
ideas
of
Tolkien's
mythology:
art
and
sub-creation,
free
will,
the
problem
of
evil,
and
a
divine
purpose
behind
the
world's
hidden
order.
Tolkien,
serving
as
the
cosmology
and
prologue
to
the
tales
that
follow.