Erik Chisholm Archive

Scope and Content

The Chisholm Collection includes the correspondence, personal ephemera and original music manuscripts of Scottish composer Erik Chisholm.

Administrative / Biographical History

Erik William Chisholm (1904 - 1965) was a Scottish composer, pianist, organist, conductor, impresario and educator. Credited as the first to bring the 'Gaelic idiom' to classical music (cf. his Piobaireachd Concerto etc), Chisholm was the founder of the Active Society for the Propagation of Contemporary Music (1929), which saw internationally renowned composers such as Bartok and Hindemith visit Glasgow to perform and conduct new works.

In 1947 Chisholm was offered the Chair of Music at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, where he worked until retirement.

Access Information

Open.

Acquisition Information

Donated to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland's Archives & Collections by Dr. Morag Chisholm, the composer's daughter.

Separated Material

University of Cape Town, South Africa.

Family Names

Geographical Names