When writing When the Birds Return I had no title in mind, however, the third section, when the tremolo returns, reminded me of that feeling when seeing the flock of birds in the distant sky returning from their migration. The guitar has always been at the heart of South American music - this is exemplified in the music of the Paraguayan guitar composer Agustín Barrios Mangoré, which I have played so often - and so this Homage to Barrios is my tribute to him.