Nightwind was written for and inspired by Edward King and Santiago Cañón Valencia, two students of Lodge's colleague James Tennant. The title refers to the wind that can blow relentlessly on winter nights – disturbing and restless – which characterises much of the music in this short, challenging duo. Occasional moments of grotesque humour leaven the gothic character of the piece. By coincidence, shortly after the work was completed and given its title, the composer learned that Ohaupo, the a village not far from the composer's home, means 'night wind' in Māori.