Albert has visited Alaska six times over the past few years, drawing inspiration for her symphony about the peninsula's land and people. The first movement, "Facing the Elements," about the land and geography, was performed by the Kenai Peninsula Orchestra's Summer Music Festival in August 2006.

The second movement, "Animalogy," about Kenai's animals, performed by a KPO woodwind quintet, premiered June 2006 at the Pratt Museum during the "Facing the Elements" outdoor sculpture exhibit's opening reception. This weekend's concert presents for the first time all three movements together, including the premiere of the final piece, with words also written by Albert.

"It's a musical depiction from this composer's point of view of the Kenai Peninsula," Albert said in a phone interview from her Pacific Palisades, Calif., home. "The last movement has to do with the people who live on the Kenai Peninsula what brought them here, what keeps them here."

"An Alaskan Symphony" was composed as part of the American Composers Forum's "Continental Harmony" project, a nationwide program bringing together composers with communities. In partnership with the Pratt Museum and Pier One Theatre, Albert was invited to visit and get to know the Kenai in all its aspects.

"Working on this 'Continental Harmony' project with the wonderful people of the Kenai Peninsula has been a dream come true," Albert said. "As beautiful as the Kenai Peninsula is, this experience ultimately became about the people who live in this place."

KPO artistic director Mark Robinson said it is humbling and exciting to have a composer of Albert's stature create a symphony for the orchestra.

"The incredible thing about this work is that it is not only for us but about us," he said. "It is very rewarding to have a tangible musical expression of our wonderful Kenai Peninsula."

The Kenai Peninsula Orchestra combines members from Homer, Kenai, Soldotna and Seward. Musicians have been rehearsing "An Alaskan Symphony" since January. Albert hears the choirs and orchestra together for the first time on Friday.

Photo by Michael Armstrong, Home Karen Syvrud plays the flute as she walks in from the forest for the world premiere of Adrienne Albert's "Animalogy" last Friday at the Pratt Museum.

The concert also features Beethoven's "Triple Concerto in C Major" and Schubert's "Mass No. 2 in G Major."

For more information on Adrienne Albert, or to hear a clip of "Animalogy," visit www.adriennealbert.com.

Michael Armstrong can be reached at michael.armstrong@homernews.com.