A work that I've heard with and without speakers and liked, each in its own
way is Walton's *Facade*.  My favorite spoken version is w/ Edith Sitwell
herself reciting the texts.  I must admit that, in my own circle of
acquaintances, I've found nobody since my college days, who've listened to
this piece w/out snickering...and I'm talking about listeners of classical
music.  Sitwell's recitations, perfectly enunciated, whether to a slow
lullaby or to a rapid patter song, dignifying all this deliberate nonsense
w/ appropriate emphases and expression when not putting the listener on w/
a deadpan monotone, are enthralling.  One almost misses the fine music to
which she is reciting all this, until one gets a recording of the music
w/out the recitation.

Walter Meyer