: : My guess is it may have something to do with Edith Bratt Tolkien, who used to sing and dance for JRRT when they young (and she was more-or-less the model for Luthien).

: I seem to remember reading somewhere in the HoME that the elves sang so well because of their superior sense of hearing. Maybe that very hearing would enable them to enjoy the perfection of their own singing (which they would be enabled to enhance and fine-tune by the very same hearing) so much more because of that sense ofhearing. Also, it adds to the picture of elves as good creatures that are able to enjoy life's pleasures to the fullest, and do so.
: NT

>> When the elves first woke at Cuvien they beheld the starts of Varda and they loved and revered them (and her though they did not yet know her) the first thing they heard was the music of Ulmo's waters on the shores of Cuvien, and the rippeling streams that fed it. That music always dwelt in their hearts and they always desired to put words to it. In the water is still heard the echo of the First Music, and also the teleri that loved the water most also was the best minstrels and singers...
I think it was JRRT's intent to combine and illustrate the elves love of water closely with their love for music and song as a result the one after the other and vice versa.

Have a great weekend everybody:) - Telchar