In November 2022, Kirk in the Hills, a congregation of the Presbyterian Church (USA) located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, celebrated the 75th anniversary of its founding with many events including a festival worship service that included four music world premieres including a commissioned choral premier.

An international carillon composition competition was conducted awarding three prizes, based on Scottish heritage, each premiered at the festival service. Over thirteen entries were received, from Japan to England, Europe and North America.

Tàladh Chriosda was chosen as first prize and premiered by carillonneur Dennis Curry.

The Scottish heritage in Tàladh Chriosda is found in its use of the fetching Scottish Gaelic carol (pronounced Tal' ad Chri os' da), also known as "the Lullaby of Our Savior." The 9th century hymn is intended to represent a lullaby for the Christ Child by the Blessed Virgin.

The words are believed to have been written by An t-Urramach Raonall Mac Raing, a Scottish priest and sung to a tune called Cumha Mhic Àrois (the Lament for Mac Àrois). But one critic says that although the tune is said to be "Cumha Mhic Arois," the hymn is now sung to an air which believed to be derived from the chorus of an old walking song.

Some things that you will notice in this piece is that the tune's first statement is accompanied in places by open fifths meant to suggest the drone of bagpipes. A later statement features prominently only the interesting harmonic underpinnings used in these settings. The classic, super-effective carillon procedure of placing the tune in the lower octave is used in the last full statement.

The coda presents cascading entrances from the beginning of the tune, followed by variations on the prominent rhythmic eighth note snap from the tune and then final references to the open fifths.

—Peter Paul Olejar