Program Note
Eyam, sometimes referred to as a "plague village", is a small village located in England. Durin the height of the Black Plague, William Mompesson (the town priest and de facto leader) elected to quarantine the entire town when a member of the community became ill. This action would help stop the spread of the plague to neighboring communities, all while Eyam and it's residents were ravaged by the disease. This culminated in the deaths of 260 people, including Mompesson's wife. The text for this piece, "Bonum magis carendo quam fruendo cernitur" (That which is good is perceived more strongly in its absence than in its enjoyment), comes from a letter written by Mompesson in reference to this time period. "A letter from Eyam" was written during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and explores themes of restraint, loss, distance, and agency.
Performed by
Lea Beaumert, Flutist at Louisiana State University on March 24, 2025