Dimitar Griva began his music education as private piano student of Professor Tamara Yankova. He graduated from the State Academy of Music in 1939 majoring in Piano under Professor Dimitar Nenov. He worked as a freelance teacher of music. Since 1949, for more than three decades, he was chief music editor at the Studio for Scientific and Cartoon Films. He worked at the Military Cinematography as well (1953-1960).

He wrote the music to over 200 documentaries, scientific and cartoon films; works for symphony orchestra and several instrumental works. He also took part in expeditions in search of old documents in monasteries and library archives in France, Italy and Germany. He contributed to the discovery and publishing of the Proto-Bulgarian Calendar of Boris Robev. The UNESCO commissioned him the music to the film The Memory of the Slavic People, which was broadcast in over 150 countries. Another film he directed and also wrote the screenplay and the music to – The Way to the Pleiades – realised after Vasil Ivanov’s paintings in 1970, was awarded in Trieste (1967).

Works for symphony orchestra:
Legend “Trimontzium” (1946); Psychological Portraits “Composer’s Album” (1951); Symphonic Poem “Sisyphus”; Prelude and Fairytale.

Film music to:
Guilt, directed by V. Gerinska (1976); Be Blessed, directed by Al. Obreshkov (1977), etc.