J.R.R. Tolkien Quotes on Music (4 Quotes)

And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me, nor can any alter the music in my despite. For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument in the devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.

It is said by the Eldar that in water there lives yet the echo of the Music of the Ainur more than in any substance that is in this Earth; and many of the Children of Ilúvatar hearken still unsated to the voices of the Sea, and yet know not for what they listen.

Then the voices of the Ainur, like unto harps and lutes, and pipes and trumpets, and viols and organs, and like unto countless choirs singing with words, began to fashipn the theme of Iluvatar to a great music; and a sound arose of endless interchanging melodies woven in harmony that passed beyond hearing into the depths and into the heights, and the places of the dwelling of Iluvatar were filled to overflowing, and the music and the echo of the music went out into the Void, and it was not void.

Out of doubt, out of dark to the days rising I came singing in the sun, sword unsheathing.To hopes end I rode and to hearts breakingNow for wrath, now for ruin and red nightfallThese staves he spoke, yet he laughed as he said them. For once more the lust of battle was on him and he was young, and he was still unscathed, and he was king, lord of a fell people. But even as he laughed at despair he looked out again at the black ships and lifted his sword to defy them. And then wonder took him, and great joy and he threw up his sword in the sunlight and sang as he caught it. All eyes followed his gaze, and upon the foremost ship, a great standard broke, and the wind displayed it as she turned toward the Harlond. There flowered a White Tree, and that was for Gondor but Seven Stars were about it, and a high crown above it, the signs of Elendil that no lord had born for years beyond count. And the stars flamed in he sunlight, for they were wrought of gems by Arwen daughter of Elrond and the crown was bright in the morning, for it was wrought of mithril and gold. Thus came Aragorn, son of Arathorn, Elessar, Isildur's heir, out of the Paths of the Dead, born upon a wind from the Sea to the kingdom of Gondor and the mirth if the Rohirrim was a torrent of laughter and a flashing of swords, and the joy of the City was a music of trumpets and a ringing of bells. But the hosts of Mordor were seized with bewilderment, and a great wizardry it seemed to them that their own ships could be filled with their foes and a black dread fell upon them, knowing that the tides of fate had turned against them and their doom was near at hand.