The creation story that opens J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion is called Ainulindalë.
The Quenya title means “Music of the Ainur.” In the account, Eru Ilúvatar teaches themes to the Ainur, powerful spiritual beings, and they make music before him. Melkor introduces discord, but the resulting vision becomes part of the history of Eä, the created universe.
Ainulindalë establishes a musical and theological framework for Tolkien’s mythology. Creation is presented through harmony, variation, conflict, and the emergence of a larger design. The story also introduces Eru, the Ainur, and Melkor before the later narratives move into the history of the world and its peoples.
It is easy to confuse the title with other sections of The Silmarillion. Valaquenta describes the Valar and Maiar, Quenta Silmarillion recounts the central First Age history, and Akallabêth tells of Númenor. Ainulindalë is specifically the opening creation account.