Mass for three voices with violins and basso continuo

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Josep Lamarca, or La Marca, was born in 1723 in Olot (La Garrotxa), and he died in 1813. He was the organist at the Sanctuary 'Mare de Déu dels Arcs', and he left a significant repertoire of works for organ. The 'Missa a 3' for two violins, two tiples (soprano shawms) and continuo are part of the set of works found in that 'Santuari dels Arcs' Sanctuary. In general, this Mass with soloists but no choir could be regarded as an exquisite chamber work. It is baroque in terms of its dialogue, contrasting blocks and thematic fragmentation, yet its musical language does not feature imitative counterpoint. The simple figuring of the continuo part, with its first inversions and suspended thirds, shows Lamarca's skill, stemming from the mastery we have discerned in a notebook containing exercises and rules for practising the basso continuo which is probably by the composer and is dated 1758.