he was born in arques-la-bataille, in seine-maritime, france, grandson to violinist prosper sainton and contralto charlotte helen sainton-dolby. he started his music studies learning the violin. at some point he entered the royal academy of music in london, where he studied composition under frederick corder and viola under lionel tertis. shortly after world war i, he joined the queen's hall orchestra, and in 1925 he was also appointed principal viola of the royal philharmonic society's orchestra. these positions were relinquished in 1929 when he was asked to replace harry waldo warner in the london quartet. in 1930 he joined the bbc symphony orchestra. his composition activities had begun early.