Ainulindal.C3.AB and Valaquenta The Silmarillion

the first section of silmarillion, ainulindalë ( music of ainur ), takes form of primary creation narrative. eru ( 1 ), called ilúvatar ( father of ), first created ainur, group of eternal spirits or demiurges, called offspring of thought . ilúvatar brought ainur , showed them theme, bade them make great music. melkor – whom ilúvatar had given greatest power , knowledge of ainur – broke harmony of music develop own song. ainur joined him, while others continued follow ilúvatar, causing discord in music. happened thrice, eru ilúvatar overpowering rebellious subordinate new theme each time. ilúvatar stopped music , showed them vision of arda , peoples. vision disappeared after while, , ilúvatar offered ainur chance enter arda , govern on new world.

many ainur descended, taking physical form , becoming bound world. greater ainur became known valar, while lesser ainur called maiar. valar attempted prepare world coming inhabitants (elves , men), while melkor, wanted arda himself, repeatedly destroyed work; went on thousands of years until, through waves of destruction , creation, world took shape.

valaquenta ( account of valar ) describes melkor , each of 14 valar in detail, few of maiar. reveals how melkor seduced many maiar – including become sauron , balrogs – service.