April, 23

Cervantes died in Madrid on April 23, 1616. Shakespeare also died on April 23rd therefore UNESCO established this day as the International Day of the Book.
However, it has turned out that Cervantes and Shakespeare did not actually die on the 23rd.
In Shakespeare’s time they used the Julian Calendar and for Cervantes the Gregorian Calendar is used.
The Gregorian calendar was ten days ahead of the Julian, this would mean that Cervantes died ten days before Shakespeare.
Enigmas literarios. Muerte de Cervantes y Shakespeare

Enigmas Literarios: Muerte De Cervantes Y Shakespeare - Click here for the most popular videos

Today is April 23rd, 2011 and as every year since 1995, it is the International Day of the Book. It is organized by UNESCO in order to promote reading, publishing and copyright.
In Spain to celebrate this day, some people read fragments of Don Quixote for two days; Furthermore, the Miguel de Cervantes Prize is presented by the King in Alcalá de Henares.


So what could we do to celebrate it?

What are your suggestions?...

Have a nice day!!!!.

MIGUEL DE CERVANTES

Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra was the author of El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha, which is sometimes referred to as the first European novel.
Although he contributed immensely to the Spanish and World literature, Cervantes never became rich as a result of his work, and we do not know much about his when he was young.
He was born in 1547 as the son of surgeon Rodrigo de Cervantes in Alcalá de Henares, a small town near Madrid; it is believed that his mother, Leonor de Cortinas, was the descendant of Jews who had converted to Christianity. In 1584 Cervantes married the much younger Catalina de Salazar y Palacios; they had no children, although he had a daughter from an affair with an actress.
He moved to Italy in 1969 and he worked as valet to a wealthy priest. The following year, he enlisted as a soldier in the Spanish Navy Infantry regiment until 1575 when he was captured by Algerian corsairs from whom he was released after paying ransom.
Back in Spain, he published some works(La Galatea) and worked as purveyor and later as tax collector.
He was sent to prison because of discrepancies in his accounts for three years. In 1605 the first part of QUIJOTE was published and he settled in Madrid, where he lived and worked until his death.
He published the Novelas Ejemplares 1613, the Viaje al Parnasol in 1614 and in 1615 Ocho Comedia y Entremeses and the second part of EL Quijote.
Cervantes' final novel was Los trabajos de Persiles y Sigismunda ("The Exploits of Persiles and Sigismunda"), published three days before his death on April 23, 1616.

To learn more

PDF ABOUT "EL QUIJOTE"


DON QUIJOTE DE LA MANCHA - QUIXOTE

Don Quijote De La Mancha (1979) - Watch more amazing videos here

Typically British

What can you do in London?
London is always a good option. These are some things you could do in London, for example you can visit the London Bride and Tower; you can eat in a pub; you can get on a double-decker bus.



Photos taken from http://recursostic.educacion.es/bancoimagenes/web/

What would you like to do??
Of course, watch a play by Shakespeare!!

WILLIAM BYRD (1540-1623)

William Byrd was an English renaissance composer. He wrote sacred and secular polyphony, keyboard and consort music.
Byrd was born in London and had two brothers and four sisters. His first compositions were related to the religious service as he was pupil of several Chapel Royal singers. His first work was as organist and choirmaster of Lincoln Cathedral for nine years. During this time he composes many items related to the Anglican religion.
On the 14th September, 1568 he married Julian Birley and they had at least seven children.
In 1572 he obtained the post of Gentleman of the Chapel Royal; this widened his scope as a composer and made him well-known at Court.
He also collaborated with other musicians and painters such as Tallies, but some turned out to be a real failure.
From the early 1570 onward Byrd became increasingly involved with Catholicism and as a consequence the themes of his compositions also change.
In about 1594, Byrd’s career entered a new phase. He is semi-retired from the Chapel Royal and he moved with his family to Essex.
Byrd composed about 470 compositions and this gives him the reputation as one of greatest masters of European Renaissance music.
Some of his works are published in collections such as: Cantiones sacrae 1589 and 1591; The English song-books of 1588 and 1589;My Ladye Nevells Booke (1580’s); Masses, Gradualia, Fitzwilliam Virginal Book (1612-1619).
Byrd was highly well-known among English musicians, especially in the earlier stages of his career. Later on, his music was not very influential until our days; much research has been made in order to increase the understanding of Byrd’s life and music.
As a curiosity, it has been argued that a reference to Byrd has been made by Shakespeare in his mysterious allegorical poem “THE PHOENIX AND THE TURTLE” in “the bird of loudest lay”.
To read more
to listen to some of his music

ROCK MUSIC

According to the free dictionary by Farlex is a genre of popular music originating in the 1950s; a blend of black rhythm-and-blues with white country-and-western; "rock is a generic term for the range of styles that evolved out of rock'n'roll."
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/rock+music
to listen

A VISIT TO Stratford-upon-Avon

This is just a brief example of what you can do with the information you collect: Stratford upon-avon

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