When Ilúvatar begins his song, the Ainur are a part of it. Similarly, in the book of Job, the angels are present as God creates the world, since it includes that “the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy” (38:7 NIV). Music is included in both creation accounts, even though it accompanies creation in the biblical account while being the creation mechanism in the “Ainulindalë.” The Ainur and the angels both have a role to play in creation. However, “it came into the heart of Melkor to interweave matters of his own imagining that were not in accord with the theme of Ilúvatar; for he sought therein to increase the power and glory of the part assigned to himself” (16). Melkor’s desires are for power and glory. He wants what belongs to Ilúvatar to belong to him, so he creates his own original ideas, but they do not mesh with Ilúvatar’s ideas. Melkor’s arrogance and selfishness prevented him from joining with the rest of the Ainur in Ilúvatar’s themes. In the book of Isaiah, Lucifer has similar desires for power: “You said in your heart, / ‘I will ascend to the heavens; / I will raise my throne / above the stars of God’” (14:13a NIV). In both instances, these feelings are described as coming from Melkor’s and Lucifer’s hearts. Something about a change in the heart makes them incompatible with Ilúvatar and God. Lucifer, though, does not just want to increase his own power and glory but wants to be greater than God. Even though he did not say this directly, he said it in his heart, which was enough for God. This means God sees what is in his angels’ hearts and takes action. Ilúvatar, however, saw the effects of Melkor’s heart, i.e. his music, before taking action. However, in both instances, the desires of Melkor and Lucifer are similar.
Both Melkor and Lucifer appear also to not have been alone in their efforts. The “Ainulindalë” states, “Some of these thoughts he now wove into his music, and straightway discord arose about him, and many that sang nigh him grew despondent, and their thought was disturbed and their music faltered; but some began to attune their music to his rather than to the thought which they had at first” (16). It is possible that the discord he created led to confusion, and that is why some joined in his music. However, the “Valaquenta” does describe Melkor as having allies, making it possible that some actually agreed with Melkor and wanted to join with him over Ilúvatar. Melkor’s music also caused some to lose hope and disrupt their music, which also greatly affects Ilúvatar’s music. In Lucifer’s case, the book of Revelation gives some insight: “Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back” (Revelation 12:7 NIV). The dragon in this verse is Lucifer, and the fact that he is going to war with Michael and his angels and that he has his own angels clearly suggests he has allies. Since both Melkor and Lucifer have allies, this suggests something persuasive about their music or speech. The feelings they have in their hearts, then, are common enough to resonate with others, which is why they could be problematic for Ilúvatar and God. Melkor’s music, in particular, directly threatens Ilúvatar’s music, and it is clearly enticing to some.
More can be said about Melkor’s and Lucifer’s natures based on the information given in the “Ainulindalë” and the Bible. Melkor’s music is described as “loud, and vain, and endlessly repeated; and it had little harmony, but rather a clamorous unison as of many trumpets braying upon a few notes. And it essayed to drown the other music by the violence of its voice” (17). Melkor’s music is dominant but lacks nuance. There is no variety to it and no dynamics other than loud. Its purpose is violence, and it does not complement other music particularly well. This reflects Melkor’s character. He is self-centered and is attempting to take control of creation, but he is not able to create music as complete as that of Ilúvatar. In Lucifer’s case, God tells him, “Your heart became proud / on account of your beauty, / and you corrupted your wisdom / because of your splendor. / So I threw you to the earth; / I made a spectacle of you before kings” (Ezekiel 28:17 NIV). Lucifer was also very arrogant and self-centered, and God saw this and threw him from heaven. For Lucifer, his nature led him away from wisdom, and God chose to make an example out of him. This means God has no place in heaven for those who try to lift themselves up before others. The role of the Ainur in Ilúvatar’s music was to create something beautiful together, which meant there was no room for one dominant voice. This aligns nicely with God’s vision for heaven, as one person lifting himself higher was enough to be thrown out.
Music is a powerful device in the “Ainulindalë.” It shows the flow of power in creation and shows the characteristics of the performer. Ilúvatar is ultimately able to use Melkor’s music and overcome the discord, but that does not change what Melkor’s music reveals about his character. Ilúvatar knows this, and Melkor loses his good grace with Ilúvatar. Lucifer also reveals his character traits, and God loses his good grace with Lucifer. Both Ilúvatar and God have the power in these scenarios, but Melkor and Lucifer still have individual natures. Unfortunately for them, their natures are not compatible with the rest of creation. Discord can be turned into beauty, but the resolution does not change what was originally in the heart of the discord.
-KW
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