The rise of public concerts in the 1720s and ’30s was in indicator of social innovations that would come to the fore during the American Revolution. Remarkably, colonial America produced musicians and paying audiences needed for public concerts not long after the trend started in Europe. But not everyone on our shores approved.

As historically informed musicians know, a performance conveys much more than just the notes on a page. ‘Performing by the Book,’ a recent collection of essays, covers an enormous temporal range — not exhaustive, of course, but by moving from the 15th century to the 21st it yields interesting comparisons.

At the end of April, French conductor Marc Minkowski was named Boston Baroque’s second-ever music director, following the retirement of founder Martin Pearlman. EMA caught up with the marquee early-music conductor to hear his thoughts on the future of the ensemble and where he sees areas of strength and growth.

Throughout European history, the lament has been associated with women. The outstanding Cappella Artemisia, led by Candace Smith, turns its attention to this mournful weeping and the Italian convents of the 16th and 17th c.