Accompanist - Definition and Overview

In music accompaniment is the art of playing along with a soloist or ensemble in a supporting manner. The term is also used to describe the music thus played. Accompaniment figures are gestures used repeatedly in the accompaniment, such as:

• Alberti bass and other arpeggios
• ostinati or riffs

Harmonic accompaniment is music played to accompany a melody line; it is usually chordal and played by such instruments as (acoustic or electric) guitar, piano, organ and bass guitar, but it can also be played by instruments that ordinarily play the melody, such as the violin. In most tonal music the melody and accompaniment are written from and share the same group of pitches, while in much atonal music the melody and accompaniment are chosen from entirely separate groups of pitches, often from different hexachords.

An accompanist is one who plays an accompaniment. A number of classical pianists have become famous as accompanists rather than soloists; the best known example is probably Gerald Moore, well known as a Lieder accompanist.

Accompaniment may be obbligato or ad libitum.

See also: Basso continuo