Martin Lodge is an Associate Prof. and Director of Composition at the Conservatorium of Music, University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand.

Nightwind (2010) was written for and inspired by Edward King and Santiago Cañón Valencia, two of Tennant's cello students in 2010. 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 Maori. The premiere performance was given by King and Cañón Valencia in August 2011 in the Dr John Gallagher Concert Chamber at the University of Waikato Academy of Performing Arts.

Aria with Commentary (2011), for James Tennant and Edward King, was inspired by the composer's experience of walking through the streets of Florence, Italy in 2008 and overhearing the mixture of conversation, singing and arguments going on amongst the people in the city. In this work, one cello often presents a melody line while the other offers comments on it. This musical dialogue ranges from sympathetic lyricism to ripostes and disagreement. Occasionally the parts exchange roles. The premiere performance was given by James Tennant and Edward King in August 2011 in the Dr John Gallagher Concert Chamber.

Epitaph (2001) 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. Lodge wrote Epitaph on hearing of Lilburn's death in 2001 and the premiere was given Tennant shortly thereafter.

Farewell (2007), for David Farquhar, was written on the evening of Farquhar's death (1928 - 2007), just a few weeks after his 79th birthday celebrations. Farquhar had been Lodge's lecturer at Victoria University of Wellington, and he remained a friend and colleague in the years following. Lodge remembers Farquhar as a fastidious composer, and a person of integrity, generosity and humanity. On learning of his passing on 8 May 2007, Lodge was moved to write a short musical tribute to him that night. Since Farquhar's Equali for two cellos was already programmed for an Okta concert at the University of Waikato's Gallagher Concert Chamber just three days later, Lodge utilised the same forces. Farewell is based on the notes D, A, F - Farquhar's initials. The premiere performance was given by James Tennant and Ros Hill on 11 May 2007.