The orthodox family from which Leon Schmalzbach came had a strong disposition for music. Leon Schmalzbach’s father had been a musician for the Munich Kammerspiele [intimate theater]. He himself began to compose music.

In Hechingen, he took on leading the men’s choir, was a member of the music society and composed songs for men’s choirs on top of his responsibilities in the Jewish community as teacher and administrator of the rabbinate.

He composed synagogal music as well.