Francesco Usper (real name Spongia or Sponga) (1561 –
1641), was an Italian composer and organist born in
Rovigno, Istria (now Rovinj, Croatia). He settled in
Venice before 1586 and is associated with the
confraternity St. Giovanni Evangelista, Venice. He
spent most of his life there, serving as organist,
chaplain, manager of the adjoining church (the S.
Salvador) and administrative officer. Usper studied
under Andrea Gabrieli and apparently became a fairly
well known composer; he collaborated...(+)
Francesco Usper (real name Spongia or Sponga) (1561 –
1641), was an Italian composer and organist born in
Rovigno, Istria (now Rovinj, Croatia). He settled in
Venice before 1586 and is associated with the
confraternity St. Giovanni Evangelista, Venice. He
spent most of his life there, serving as organist,
chaplain, manager of the adjoining church (the S.
Salvador) and administrative officer. Usper studied
under Andrea Gabrieli and apparently became a fairly
well known composer; he collaborated in the writing of
a Requiem mass (now lost) with Giovanni Battista Grillo
and Claudio Monteverdi for the Grand Duke Cosimo II,
and he served as substitute organist at St. Mark's in
1622 and 1623. Although his music tended towards
conservatism, he shows his ability to handle with skill
sensitivity to the instrumental styles just emerging in
the early 17th century.
As a Venetian composer, he worked a lot in "minor"
Venetian institutions - but we must to recall that
Venice was, at this time, one of the leading cities of
musical Europe, and then so-called "minor" institutions
were at least equivalent to leading institutions of
other Italian cities. Hs family name was Sponga (also
spelled Sponza, a fairly common name in Rovigno, at his
time, until modern era): Usper was the name of his
protector - Lodovico Usper, a prominent legal in
Venice, at the end of 16th century.
The Benedicam Dominum, "I will bless the Lord at all
times; And his praise shall be ever on my lips"
Source: Wikipedia
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesco_Usper).
Although originally written for Double Chorus
(SATB/ATTB) and Continuo, I created this Interpretation
of "Benedicam Dominum" for Winds (Flute, Oboe, French
Horn & Bassoon) and Strings (2 Violins, Viola & Cello).
PARTITION