Epitaph was written in dedication to one of New Zealand's foremost composers to date, Douglas Lilburn (1915–2001). Lilburn was a teacher and inspiration to many younger composers, including Lodge, who studied with him at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Lilburn's insight, tenacity and musical independence have had a lasting impact on New Zealand's music. References to his changeable character are embedded in some of the cello gestures in Epitaph. The piece closes with eight pizzicato notes dying away, one note for each decade of his life.