Silmarillion - Ainulindale

[Laitoste]

Originally Posted by piosenniel

The repetition of sounds in the sentences and how the words are put together or spaced apart reminds me at times of a river's water sliding over stones of differing sizes, over sandy bars, and bumping with varying degrees of force against those things which have fallen into it before flowing on again.

In many creation myths, from Judeo-Christian to Native American, the earth is created either out of of in spite of water. It strikes me that water is similar to music. Many words that describe water also can be used to describe music; for example, in the Ainulindale, the second theme began "amid the storm", and the third theme was a "mere rippling" at first, then "took to to itself power and profundity" (5). What also intrigues me is that Ulmo was "of all most deeply...instructed by Iluvatar in music" (8). I think pio's comment on how the whole piece feels like water fits in well with this theme. But why is this important? Perhaps it lends the writing some sort of authenticity, because it is similar to what we all "know", and yet it is unique...other than that, I don't know.

Furthermore, I have to follow Anguirel's fascination with Melkor. He has substance, facets that the other Ainur (save Ulmo, maybe) lack. He gives us something to think about. Melkor actually DOES something for himself, because he wants to. And there wouldn't really be a point without him, would there?

I absolutely adore this selection (see pio's comment above). It took me awhile to understand what was going on, but once I got it, and listened to it aloud, it was amazing. I still hear Martin Shaw every time I read it!