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).