The music of the Ainur
 

To cut a long passage to not quite so long, this is a bit of the Sil that I just re-read, and it made me think. does anyone have information/theories/conjecture about what exactly the themes represent, and why there are three? I know the third is to do with the Children of Iluvatar, and that Manwe was chief instrument of the second. Is this something obvious that i've missed?

The first theme (this just what I think) was the Valar's first attampt at creating MiddleEarth before the First War. The second theme was when they put up the lamps Illuin and Ormal and tried again. Then when Morgoth destroyed those, the went to Valinor and the third theme started with the Children of Iluvatar. I may be off on some things.

Isn't there also a wider idea behind these themes? It was said that, whatever discord Melkor created, Eru would take it and use it as an insturment to create even greater wonders. So the interweaving of the music and the themes starting subsequent to Melkor's attempt to cause discord are an example of how Eru permitted the Evil to exist but then used it to create greater good.

sharon, the 7th age hobbit

I like this topic. That's a really really good point, but it also could mean that whatever Melkor made, Eru made it greater. Greatness is greater than evilness. (if that makes any sense whatsoever) It's like with animals. Foxes eat rabbits, but tigers can eat foxes. (very bad example but it kinda fits) Or it can be in another way, but the main point is that whatever evil Melkor made, Eru made something even greater, something that could outdo the evil he put in. He was Eru afterall, and Melkor wasn't THAT powerfull..
Basically, most of what I said was what Child of the 7th Age was saying!!