Jambatan Tamparuli for Wind Band
Commissioned by National Band Directors Association of Malaysia for Malaysia Primary School Band Competition 2025
Set for Wind Band by Isaac Chia Original theme by Justin Lusah
Program notes: Rooted in the beloved Kadazandusun song composed by Justin Lusah in 1977, this piece sings of the iconic Tamparuli Bridge—a symbol woven into the heart of Sabah’s culture. In this wind band arrangement, a grand introduction sets the stage, echoing the song’s defining motif. The full theme then emerges, entwining with its retrograde counterpart, as if tracing the journey of footsteps crossing the bridge from both directions. As the music slows, a sense of quiet reflection takes hold. The retrograde inversion theme unfolds, followed by its inverted mirror, evoking the shimmering water beneath—where the bridge above finds its silent twin in the rippling depths below. Then, as if stepping back onto solid ground, the piece gathers energy and bursts into a joyful march. The music surges forward in celebration, echoing the spirit of the bridge—not just as a crossing, but as a place of connection, tradition, and festivity.