accompaniment

[In Fr. accom pagnement; Ital. accompagnamento.] [AссомPANY.] L. Gen. Something superadded to or attendant upon another thing, something which if present gives greater completene to that which occupies the principal place. recitation, with its kindred accompaniment of action." Merivale: Hist. of the Romans under the Empire, ch. xli. "The out skirting houses rose out of the plain like isolated beings, without the accompaniment of gardens or court-yards."-Darwin: Voyage round the World , ch. iii, p. 42. the sure accompaniments of the still. glowing noonday of the tropics."- Ibid . , ch. xxi., p. 496. II. Music : 1. Something subordinate added to give completene to the music. If vocal performance is designed to occupy the chief place, then the addition of instruments constitutes the accompaniment , and vice vers a. "Modern composers judiciously affix a violin accom paniment to the vocal part."-Mason: Church Music, p. 74. 2. Thorough base. The accompaniment of the scale is the harmony a igned to the series of notes ascending and descending, generally called the diatonic scale, that scale being taken as a base. III. Painting: Whatever objects are added to the principal figures for the purpose of further illustrating them. IV. Her.: Whatever additions are made to the shield by way of ornament, as belt mouldings, supporters, .