ACCOMPANYMENT

, in Music, denotes either the different parts of a piece of music for the different instruments, or the instruments themselves which accompany a voice, to sustain it, as well as to make the music more full.

The Accompanyment is used in recitative, as well as in song; on the stage, as well as in the choir, &c.

The ancients had likewise their accompanyments on the theatre; and they had even different kinds of instruments to accompany the chorus, from those which accompanied the actors in the recitation.

The accompanyment among the moderns, is often a different part, or melody, from the song it accompanies. But it is disputed whether it was so among the ancients.

Organists sometimes apply the word to several pipes which they occasionally touch to accompany the treble; as the drone, the flute, &c.

ACCOMPT. See Account.