The Rebel Fanfare is a recurring musical phrase representing both the Alliance to Restore the Republic and the iconic Millennium Falcon. Its presence is significant in Episode IV, but it makes fewer appearances in the other films. Typically, the brass instruments perform this theme. Every movie's closing credits feature it. Furthermore, it is incorporated into the theme music of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. It forms a key melodic component of the Star Wars Rebels TV show's primary theme.
While its use is less frequent beyond the original trilogy, the theme does have some memorable moments in other Star Wars films: it can be heard when the Millennium Falcon is revealed on Jakku in The Force Awakens, quite a few times in The Last Jedi, and in The Rise of Skywalker.
In Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the theme is present on several occasions, most notably during a shot of the Rebel Alliance Headquarters, when the Alliance Fleet comes out of hyperspace above Scarif, as Blue Squadron engages the AT-ACTs, and as a reference to "Imperial Attack" from Episode IV, during the final scene on Tantive IV. In Solo: A Star Wars Story, the theme is also used, with a particularly grand version playing as the Millennium Falcon escapes the gravity well within the Maw Cluster.
Each Star Wars film uses the Rebel Fanfare in its end credits. The soundtrack for Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope relies heavily on this rebel leitmotif. The initial use of the motif is in the track Main Title/Rebel Blockade Runner, where it introduces Tantive IV, the rebel blockade runner as it flees from Darth Vader's Star Destroyer. It is also featured in Imperial Attack, The Hologram/Binary Sunset, The Death Star/The Stormtroopers, Wookiee Prisoner/Detention Block Ambush, Ben Kenobi's Death/TIE Fighter Attack, and The Throne Room/End Title. In Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back, the motif can be heard in The Battle of Hoth Medley, in addition to the end credits. For Star Wars: Episode VI Return of The Jedi, the fanfare is played during The Pit of Carkoon/Sail Barge Assault and The Battle of Endor III Medley, along with the end credits.
The Star Wars radio drama incorporates the motif in ways consistent with the film, but uniquely, it also appears in the first episode as part of a promotional video for the Imperial Space Academy. Luke Skywalker is shown humming along to a portion of the fanfare as he watches the video.
In Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of The Sith, the Rebel Fanfare is played when R2-D2 eliminates the last of the buzz droids during the Battle of Coruscant. This music comes from the unreleased track "Get 'em R2!"
The end titles of each episode of the Star Wars: The Clone Wars TV series include the fanfare. Additionally, the episode "Wookiee Hunt" uses the fanfare as a recurring theme outside of the titles.
The main theme of the Star Wars Rebels television series features the Rebel Fanfare alongside a version of the trap motif. While the trap motif rendition acts as a theme for the Spectres rebel cell, the Rebel Fanfare is used to accompany most of the intro and outro screens displaying the Rebels logo.
In the sequel trilogy, beyond its usual appearance in the end credits, the motif appears in the tracks Follow Me and The Falcon for Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awakens, Main Title and Escape, The Battle of Crait, and Peace and Purpose in Star Wars: Episode VIII The Last Jedi, and The Falcon Flight and Rescue in Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker.
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope soundtrack
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back soundtrack
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi soundtrack
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace soundtrack
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones soundtrack
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith soundtrack