https://github.com/erikd/libsndfile/issues/70

generate_soundfile.py

#!/usr/bin/env python3

import numpy as np
from scipy.io import wavfile

# SciPy >= 0.13 is needed for 32-bit floating point support

wavfile.write('stereo.wav', 44100, np.array([[1.0,  -1.0],
                                             [0.75, -0.75],
                                             [0.5,  -0.5],
                                             [0.25, -0.25]], dtype='float32'))

Makefile

LDLIBS = -lsndfile

all: rw_problem

clean:
	$(RM) rw_problem

rw_problem.c

#include <sndfile.h>
int main() {
  SF_INFO sfinfo;
  SNDFILE* sf;
  sf = sf_open("stereo.wav", SFM_RDWR, &sfinfo);
  sf_close(sf);
}

stereo.wav