This piece is the opening piece of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. It plays through the opening "crawl", wherein text moves across the screen, setting the scene for the film.

The set work falls into two parts. The first 29 bars consist of a short introductory fanfare followed by a ternary (ABA1) structure, creating the familiar opening to all the Star Wars films. The second part sets the opening scene for this particular film.

Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner uses a full symphony orchestra, featuring over 90 musicians. This included:
- Two flutes, one piccolo, two oboes, two clarinets, one bass clarinet, two bassoons
- Four horns, three trumpets, two trombones, one bass trombone, one tuba
- Timpani, plus four players to cover: triangle, cymbals, snare drum, large gong, vibraphone, celesta, glockenspiel, piano, harp
- 16 first violins, 16 second violins, 11 violas, 10 cellos, seven double basses

John Williams avoided the use of electronic effects and synthesisers in the score, which were very popular in film scores of the late 1970's, especially those with a futuristic theme.

Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner is mostly in 4/4 , with a 3/4 section at the end. The first section of the piece is in B♭ major, modulating into E♭ for the second half of the piece. Although, there are areas of dissonance and bitonality also.

The piece is dominated by various types of homophonic texture. A variety of pedal textures are used also.