Ainulindalë is the creation account that opens J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion.
The title means “Music of the Ainur,” and the section describes how Eru Ilúvatar creates the Ainur and gives them a great musical theme. Their performance becomes a vision of the history of the world, while Melkor’s discord introduces conflict into the music. The account then connects the vision to the creation of Eä, the universe containing Arda.
Ainulindalë establishes several central ideas in Tolkien’s mythology: creation through music, the limits of rebellion, and the relationship between divine purpose and the actions of individual beings. It is therefore more than a decorative prologue; it provides the metaphysical foundation for later events.
The title is often confused with Valaquenta, which follows it and describes the Valar and Maiar. Quenta Silmarillion is the much longer central history of the Silmarils and the First Age.