I don't know if this post will hold up against the humor, but I'll put
it down for the record. . .
Pound's article for New Masses regarding factory music was motivated by
an interest in larger conceptual forms for rhythm than the "small bits"
of rhythmic unity that could be found in concert music. The article
based its interest on the accomplishment of Antheil's Ballet mecanique
which according to Antheil and Pound was the first Western piece of
music to achieve a large rhythmic form in space/time. Pound was looking
for other "venues" so to speak. The article suggests the musically
oriented person from among the factory employees could "compose" the
sounds for their fellow-workers. Since then of course, new music has
taken on the challenge of larger forms, both rhythmic and arhythmic.
Margaret