Not sleeves

Perhaps the most authentic recording is that of Scubi with the Plovdiv piano players, accompanied by the Tomsk Tractor Drivers (on the pianoes – now sadly crushed). Their moving rendition (of the pianists) is well recorded, and the only complaint is the ungenerous lay-out of the recordings: for a piece 72' (more on weekdays) long, 3 CD's are used. This in itself would be bad value, but combined with the 2 "free" tractors and 5 hectares of rainforest, and retailing at $20001, this really is just a collector's item.

Lastly there is the radical version of Vladimir Vladikovsky with the Radical Symphony Auditor and the Ankara amateur accountants. This is certainly the most competitive recording, though is spoiled somewhat by the inexplicable garotting of the entire cast and crew only five minutes after the beginning. This has minimal impact on the interpretation, which is distributed on two CD's and a grapefruit (or a lemon in France).

The first choice thus remains the pioneering recording of the Orlando amateur party-goers, with its inspired coupling of the piece with Bluov's Concerto for vacuum cleaner da gamba and goat.

Sleeve notes

Show-wadi(wadi). Collected works for oboe and string vest.

Several versions of this ambitious and lengthy work have been brought out recently. The work was originally commissioned by the BBC for the signature tune for Come Dancing, but was drastically expanded to form a War Requiem, doubling as a fridge-freezer on weekends. Its first performance came on a Sunday night, unfortunately, and the disappointed audience reacted badly to gannets on sticks rather than a Requiem. Further revision of the work was undertaken until it emerged in its final form – a good four stone lighter and "fighting fit".

The most satisfactory version of this piece is that recorded by the LSO under Dorati, though it was recorded in 1956, four years before the final revision, and regrettably on a Sunday (q.v.). Hence this version can only be recommended to freaky ice-cream lovers. But it's still better than the music.