Lucien Cailliet (1891-1985) was a French-born American clarinettist, composer, conductor and arranger whose career centred on the colouristic possibilities of the modern orchestra. Born in Dijon, he trained in France before moving to the United States, where he became closely associated with major orchestral and band traditions.

Cailliet played clarinet in The Philadelphia Orchestra and worked as an arranger for Leopold Stokowski and Eugene Ormandy. He became especially well known for orchestral transcriptions, including music by Bach, Mussorgsky and others, as well as for original works and music for bands.

His gift lay in the practical magic of sonority: knowing how to make familiar music gleam differently without losing its identity. His arrangements often favour brilliance, breadth and theatrical impact, qualities well suited to the recording and concert world of mid-century America.

Although his name is less famous than those of the conductors he served, Cailliet helped shape how much orchestral music reached listeners. He belongs to that essential tribe of musician-craftsmen who know where every instrumental switch is hidden.