Concert-goers this fall can truly feel transported back in time as they listen to Haydn and Mendelssohn the way their music was originally heard, in historic buildings that match the time of the music.

As part of their “Classical Music in Historic Sites” tour, the DaPonte String Quartet will perform a fall-themed concert in two of Maine’s most historic meeting houses, in Harpswell and Walpole. Other venues are the First Baptist Church of Paris Hill and the huge old barn at Wells Reserve at Laudholm. All four sites are on the National Register of Historic Places.

The "Sounds of Autumn" features the "Lark" Quartet by Franz Josef Haydn (a contemporary of the meetinghouses) and Opus 13 (“Under a Grape Arbor”) by Felix Mendelssohn (a contemporary of the First Baptist Church and the Laudholm barn) as well as Duos for Violin by Bela Bartok.

This is the 18th year the quartet has performed in the Old Walpole Meeting House, and it is almost always a sell-out. This very special setting, a 1772 building that boasts its original hand-shaved shingles, 12-over-12 windows, paneled balconies and has no electricity; the concert is always performed by candle light. This year the quartet performs there on September 7 at 7 p.m. The Meetinghouse is located on the Meetinghouse Road in Walpole. Tickets $25 from Maine Coast Books, Damariscotta, or 207-563-2524.

Harpswell’s Old Meetinghouse dates to 1759 and has been meticulously restored and maintained with original pumpkin pine box pews, balconies, and a pulpit backlit by a multi-paned arched window. A portion of concert receipts will go to the Harpswell Historical Society to help maintain the building. This performance will be held on September 6 at 7:30 p.m. The Old Harpswell Meeting House is located on Harpswell Neck Road, Harpswell. Tickets $25 from www.daponte.org, Gulf of Maine Books, Brunswick, or 207-529-4555.

The DaPonte String Quartet have performed across Maine for 22 years and were just voted the “Best Musical Group in Maine” by readers of Down East Magazine.

The “Classical Music in Historic Sites” concerts are made possible in part by a grant from the Maine Arts Commission.

For more information on these, and other concerts, visit the quartet's website.