An accompanist supports a lead musician in a piece of music, often played by a pianist for a solo singer, but can be provided by an entire ensemble. Accompaniment is used in various musical performances, including musical theater and jazz bands, and can involve various instruments playing chords or harmonics. Dialog accompaniment involves two musicians or ensembles taking turns as accompanist and leader.
An accompanist is an individual who plays a supporting musical role by playing along with a lead musician who is singing or playing the lead part of a particular piece of music. Generally speaking, an accompanist plays along with a singer, but this is not always the case; Sometimes a soloist on one instrument has another musician play a supporting role. The art of playing a supporting musical role is known as accompaniment. An accompaniment piece can be played by a single person or by an entire ensemble, just as a lead part can be performed by an individual or an ensemble.
Generally, an accompanist is a pianist who provides music for a solo singer. Accompaniment, however, is used in many areas of musical performance, from orchestral pieces to modern rock and musical theater. It can be provided by a single sideman or by an entire backing band. Artists sometimes alternate between supporting roles and leading roles. This is a common practice in jazz bands, which often present performances in which some songs feature singers and others do not. Sometimes the music the band performs is the main focus, while in other cases the singer is the main focus.
Generally, an accompanist is expected to provide a relatively simple chord progression that provides rhythm and pitch without distracting the lead performer. Thus, instruments that can play chords, such as piano, guitar, organ, and electric keyboard, are commonly used for accompaniment. When other instruments such as flutes or violins are used, there are usually several accompanists who play together to produce appropriate harmonics. Sometimes an accompanist is called in to provide a bass progression. This typically involves an electric bass, upright bass, or kick drum played to keep the beat going.
Musical theater makes extensive use of accompaniment due to the need to provide rhythm and tone to actors and singers on stage. The degree and type of accompaniment varies greatly and can range from a single pianist or guitarist to a full band with large percussion, brass, woodwind and string sections. An accompanist usually plays many roles in musical theater from start to finish. He is often called upon to accompany singers during vocal auditions, and is sometimes expected to lead basic vocal rehearsals.
In a performance style known as dialog accompaniment, two musicians or ensembles take turns as accompanist and leader. The lead executes for a while, then transitions into the follower role, and the other individual or group takes over and executes the lead.
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