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Jean Baptiste Masse (c.1700 - c.1757) was a French
composer and violoncello player.

He was an Ordinaire de la Chambre du Roi and a
member of the King's Bande of Twenty-Four Violins
and of the orchestra of the Comédie Française. 

Little is known of his life other than the
publication dates of his first three volumes of
sonatas and the appearance of his name on the
payroll of the Comédie Française in 1752 as
cellist and bass player. 

According to Jules Bonnassies (La Musique à la
Comédie Française (1774)) the same musicians
were employed from 1752 until 1758 when Masse's
name no longer appears on the record; given these
dates and the dedication of Book I of the sonatas
it is probable that he was employed there between
at least 1736 and 1757.

Masse published five volumes of sonatas. Books I
(1736) dedicated to Messieurs les Comédiens
Français, II (1739) dedicated to Monsieur Gaudion
de le Grange Conseiller du Parlement, and V are
for two cellos and basso continuo. Books III and
IV are for two solo cellos without a figured bass.
Masse indicates that they may be played by
bassoons, viols or violins.

He also composed a Premier Suite de Menuets
nouveaux à 2 violoncelles. The Masse sonatas are
some of the first virtuoso pieces written for
cello and basso continuo.