Leib Glantz was born on June 1, 1898 in Kiev, Russian Empire (now Kyiv, Ukraine) and began his career as a child prodigy cantor at age eight. He studied piano under Nikolai Tutkovski and later graduated in piano and composition under Reinhold Gliere at the Kyiv Music Conservatory. In 1926, Glantz traveled to the United States and recorded compositions such as "Shema Yisrael" and "Tal" with RCA. He served as chief cantor of Ohev Shalom synagogue in New York and later at Sinai Temple and Sha'arei Te'filah synagogue in Los Angeles. Glantz composed 215 works, including High Holidays = ימים נוראים, and appeared in leading tenor roles in operas such as Alan Hovhaness' "Shepherd of Israel," Jacques Halevy's "La Juive," and Joseph Tal's "Saul at Ein Dor." He founded the Tel Aviv Institute for Jewish Liturgical Music and was a prominent figure in the Zionist movement. Glantz died on January 27, 1964, while performing in Tel Aviv.
