
The Glorious Chords of Ilumeldathra
The Ainulindalë, known as The Music of the Ainur or The Great Music (V."Ilumeldathra"), is the foundational narrative of the cosmos, recounting the creation of all that exists. Sung by the Ainur, the holy spirits formed by Eru Ilúvatar, it is the melody from which the universe itself unfolded. The tale is remembered in whispered reverence, for in it lies the origin of both harmony and discord, the birth of beauty and the shadow of rebellion.
The first theme, created by Ilúvatar but developed by the Ainur, presented the form of Eä. This theme was marred by the discord of Melkor.
The second theme, probably indicating the shaping of Arda, defeated Melkor's discord and incorporated it into itself.
The third theme, in which the Ainur did not participate, dealt with the creation of the Children of Ilúvatar and their history up to the Dominion of Men.
Prelude[]
In the beginning, before the birth of all that is seen and unseen, Eru Ilúvatar brought forth the Ainur, beings of great power and thought, to dwell with Him in the Timeless Halls. He taught them the art of music, and for an age beyond reckoning, each sang alone, their melodies reflecting the uniqueness of their minds. But then Ilúvatar revealed to them a Great Theme, a melody so vast and intricate that its full purpose lay hidden even from the Ainur.
He called them to sing together, to weave their voices into the fabric of a single, harmonious vision. Thus began the Ainulindalë, the greatest Music ever sung, a symphony that shaped the destiny of all things. In unison, the Ainur raised their voices, and the Great Music began. It was said to be a tapestry of sound, interwoven with harmonies of light and form. The Music gave life to the Ainur’s thoughts, shaping a vision of a world yet unmade. But within this harmony, a discord arose.
The Three Themes[]
The Music unfolded in three great themes, each reflecting a different aspect of Ilúvatar’s vision and the will of the Ainur.
The First Theme:[]
The First Theme, led by Aluin, the eldest and most luminous of the Ainur, was a song of order and creation. Its melodies shaped the foundations of Eä: the stars, and the harmonious movements of the heavens, the void, and the first whispers of life. The Ainur wove together a vision of balance and order.
Yet, into this theme, Melkor, the mightiest of the Ainur, introduced discord. His song rose in defiance, seeking to mold the Music to his own desire. The dissonance marred the harmony, creating rifts in the melody that echoed as the potential for chaos and conflict within creation.
The Second Theme:[]
Ilúvatar arose and revealed the Second Theme, richer and deeper, led by Manwë, Melkor’s brother and counterpart, whose song wove currents of compassion and resilience soaring clarity, countering the discord with melodies of hope and restoration.
Melkor’s response was fiercer and more tumultuous, his notes clashing like thunder upon the waves. Yet even his defiance could not wholly mar the song; instead, his dissonance gave rise to unforeseen beauty. From the chaos of his counter-theme sprang the mountains and the tumult of the seas, shaping the world with power and grandeur.
The Third Theme:[]

"Ilúvatar's Last Chord", by Anna Kulisz
The Third Theme arose as Ilúvatar’s answer to Melkor’s defiance. It was a quiet, almost fragile melody, unlike the grandeur of the first two. This theme introduced the Children of Ilúvatar—Elves and Men—whose voices were yet unheard but whose destiny would shape the world. The Ainur struggled to comprehend this theme, for it was filled with sorrow and hope beyond their understanding. Even Melkor’s discord could not fully break it, for its beauty lay not in power but in resilience and mystery.
Finally, Ilúvatar brought forth the Third Theme, which none of the Ainur could comprehend. Its melody was soft, filled with subtle chords of mystery, and was led by no single Ainu but seemed to emerge from Ilúvatar Himself. This theme spoke of the Children of Ilúvatar, Elves and Men, who were not part of the Ainur’s vision and yet would hold the greatest destiny in the unfolding world.
The Third Theme wove the dissonance of Melkor into a profound and unknowable harmony, suggesting that even rebellion had a place within the ultimate design. It was a song of hope, of endings that became beginnings, and of the unseen threads binding all things.
The Creation[]
When the Music ceased, Ilúvatar revealed to the Ainur a vision: a world born of their song, complete with life, beauty, and its unending struggles. They marveled, for each saw their contribution and the intricate weaving of their voices. Yet Ilúvatar reminded them: no note, not even Melkor’s discord, was outside his design.
Then Ilúvatar spoke the word “Eä”—“Let these things Be”—and the vision became reality. Eä, the World that Is, was formed.
References[]
- Foster, Robert: The Complete Guide to Middle-earth.
- Tolkien, J.R.R. The Silmarillion.
- Tolkien, J.R.R. The Book of Lost Tales Part One.
- Tyler, J.E.A. The Complete Tolkien Companion
- "Ainulindalë (Morgoth's Ring)." Tolkien Gateway.
- "Ainulindalë (Rúmil's work)." Tolkien Gateway