Jean-Baptiste Masse - Sonatas for two cellos, Book II - Brandywine Baroque

Jean-Baptiste Masse is one of those unfortunates who's been passed by even the Grove dictionary (and completely undeserved too). True, there is not much known about his life. The tentative dates of his birth and death are inferred indirectly from the publishing dates of his oevre and the payroll of Comédie Française where he worked in the orchestra. He was also a member of 24 Violons du Roy and hence among the most professional and best paid musicians in the kingdom.

France was known for its strong gamba school so the cello had to compete for the place of the main bass string instrument for quite some time. Masse is considered to be the first French composer to write for solo cello, although he did indicate that it could be replaced with gamba or even bassoon.

The second book presented here was dedicated to Monsieur Gaudion de le Grange, councillor to the Parliament and apparently the composer's patron. The fragments from the first book, dedicated in turn to the colleagues from Comédie Française can be found on the album Les Prétentions du Violoncelle recorded by Ricercar Consort.
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