 "Saturn", "Uranus" and "Neptune" were all composed during 1915, and "Mercury" was completed in 1916.Each planet is represented with a distinct character; Dickinson observes that "no planet borrows colour from another".In "Mars", a persistent, uneven rhythmic cell consisting of five beats, combined with trumpet calls and harmonic dissonance provides battle music which Short asserts is unique in its expression of violence and sheer terror, "... Holst's intention being to portray the reality of warfare rather than to glorify deeds of heroism".