Lotte Backes (1901–1990), recipient of the Federal Cross of Merit, was a German pianist, organist and composer. She studied composition at the Prussian Academy of Arts and lost much of her early work during the Second World War. The present work, episodio per tomba e organo , dates from her post-war period and is available as a facsimile edition.

The composer and music teacher Harald Heilmann (1924–2018) studied composition first at the Leipzig University of Music (1946–1950) and then with Hanns Eisler at the Academy of Arts in East Berlin. After moving to West Germany in 1952, he continued his studies with Frank Martin at the Cologne University of Music. In addition to working as an editor for various music publishers, Heilmann worked as a freelance composer from 1958 onwards. His work has been honoured with numerous awards, including the Stamitz Prize, the Federal Cross of Merit and a scholarship from the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris. This work is scored for trombone (alternatively viola or English horn) and organ.