The relationship betwen Music/Singing and Magic

[Bêthberry]

Just out of interest I thought I'd link to Mithalwen's thread on Music and Magic in Middle earth. There's some good references there that pertain to this thread.

Originally Posted by Eönwë

Well, I would say that since the Ainur are outside the Music, it wouldn't be pulsing through the way it was with Arda itself. I think that this is also why the elves sing more, and their songs are powerful- they are bound to the Music while Men are not, so they feel more connected to it. I don't think that Men in Middle-Earth sing as much as Elves, and this is because they are outside the Music, and can choose their own paths.

I'm not sure we can say that the Ainur are outside the music; nor that men are not bound to the music.

True that the Ainur were the offspring of his [Eru's] thought. Yet immediately we read that He spoke to them of a music and propounded themes of music to them. Yet what would be the difference between thought and speaking except that one is internal and the other vocalised? Both have proceeded out of Illuvatar's mind. And as the Ainur sing, they become more and more familiar with the music, increasing in unison and harmony. Then, kindled with the Flame Imperishable, they are bidden by Illuvatar to adorn the music with their own thoughts and devices. So, their minds are woven into and bound with the music.

Originally Posted by Ainulindale

Never since have the Ainur made any music like to this music, thought it has been said that a great still shall be made before Illuvatar by the choirs of the Ainur and the Children of Illuvatar after the end of days. Then the themes of Illuvatar shall be played aright, and take Being in the moment of their utterance, for all shall then understand fully his intent in their part, and each shall know the comprehension of each, and Illuvatar shall give to their thoughts the secret fire, being well pleased.

When rebuking Melkor, Illuvatar states that no theme shall be played that hath not its uttermost source in Illuvatar: For he that attempteth this shall prove but mine instrument inthe devising of things more wonderful, which he himself hath not imagined.

All things, then, are part of the music, part of what Illuvatar imagined. And when He showed the Ainur their music that was sustained in the Void but not of the Void, they saw the coming of the Children of Illuvatar, who were conceived in the third music.

Originally Posted by Ainulindale

Therefore when they [the Ainur] beheld them, [men and elves, the children] more did they love them, being things other than themselves, strange and free, wherein they saw the mind of Illuvatar reflected anew.

Music is creation, is the life force in Tolkien's work. Life does not, within the mythology, exist outside the music. Elves and men, like Ainur, may not be aware of the entire unison and harmony, but they are part of the music and bound to it.

As for the question of magic, I don't have the Letters at hand, but I recall that there are letters wherein Tolkien strove to explain magic as art. What seems magical is nothing more than the finest work of art. Perhaps it was in his later years that he particularly wished to disassociate elven creation from magic, but he did attempt to clarify his words. His magic is certainly very much different from Harry Potter magic.