Music: The Dilettante Hater

Even after success came to Claude Debussy with his Pelleas et Melisande and Prélude a l'Après-midi d'un Faune, the bearlike composer helped support himself for nearly ten years by scribbling pieces for Paris journals. A collection of his musical criticisms called Monsieur Croche, the Dilettante Hater (Lear; $2.75), long out of print in the U.S., was republished this week. Music-lovers who admire Composer Debussy may not always agree with Critic Debussy—but some of his judgments are as luminous as his music. For his critical 'dirty work and malicious humor Debussy invented a "Monsieur Croche" (Mr. Eighth Note) to do his arguing...