Unfinished Tales - Part One - I - Of Tuor and His Coming to Gondolin

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I would like to comment on one aspect of this story that has not yet been mentioned - music! (Bet you're surprised... ) Since Ulmo is important in this narrative, and he is the Vala most associated with music, and his element of water is that within which the Music of creation lives on, this is hardly astonishing. However, it is Tuor who is the active musician here. He both sings and plays the harp - skilfully, it is said. The first time that his music-making is mentioned, it is instrumental (pun unintentional, but too nice to remove!) in leading him in the right direction.

And even as he sang the well at his feet began to boil with great increase of water, and it overflowed, and a rill ran noisily down the rocky hillside before him. And Tuor took this as a sign, and he arose at once and followed after it.

The next mention also takes him in the right direction; when he sings and plays in the Echoing Mountains, the gulls appear above him, again showing him the way to go.

Ulmo does play one single note on his horn later, and Tuor then sees a vision of the waters of the world.

I can't help but wonder if music plays a role in the positive fate of Tuor. I don't recall reading about Túrin singing or playing, at least nothing decisive. Could the music have kept Tuor more closely connected with the will of the Valar, specifically Ulmo?

The last mention of music in this chapter is the one that fascinates me most. Tuor approaches the seventh gate:

Elemmakil... struck upon a bar, and the fence rang like a harp of many strings, giving forth clear notes in harmony that ran from tower to tower.

I'm sure I'm not the only one of us who has hit fence bars with a stick to see how they sound, but this is something special! I would love to have heard it!