I would like to know the name of the artist and the song played at the
ending of the 2003 season opening show.

The song played at the end of the West Wing opening show for the 2003
season was "Sanvean" sung by Lisa Gerrard. Below you will find online
references in order to verify that this is the correct answer.


From TV Tome

Title of Episode: 7A WF 83429
Aired: September 24, 2003


?Music: Lisa Gerrard sang "Sanvean". This song can be found on her
"The Mirror Pool" CD, as well as on the Dead Can Dance "Toward the
Within" live soundtrack CD. ?
http://www.tvtome.com/WestWing/season5.html


?The music during the ending montage was Lisa Gerrard singing
"Sanvean" from the Dead Can Dance "Toward the Within" live soundtrack
CD.?
http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/ShowForumPage/showid-189/threadid-1746/



 ?Music: Lisa Gerrard sang "Sanvean". This song can be found on her
"The Mirror Pool" cd, as well as on the Dead Can Dance "Toward the
Within" live soundtrack cd.?
http://www.tvtome.com/tvtome/servlet/EpisodeGuideSummary/showid-189/
 


Song at end of The West Wing

?It is Sanvean sung by Lisa Gerrard.  It first appeared on her CD "The
Mirror Pool" (there is a  sample available at amazon.com). Another
version appears  on the live album Toward the Within by Dead Can
Dance. Lisa was half of the Dead Can Dance duo before they broke
up.?
Music Room Forum
http://glyphs.gardenweb.com/forums/load/music/msg0911303410695.html


?Sanvean from Dead Can Dance sung by Lisa Gerrard - song during montage at end .?
The West Wing Episode Guide
http://www.westwingepguide.com/S5/Episodes/91_7AWF83429.html


From A Boston Globe review of the episode:

?The hour is largely "West Wing" business as usual, despite NBC
president Jeff Zucker's claim in The New York Times that the episode
is the best in the series' history. It even ends with one of Sorkin's
favorite crutches, an operatic montage set to the heightened New Age
strains of Lisa Gerrard's "Sanvean" that rubs our noses in emotional
catharsis.?
Boston Globe
http://bartlet4america.org/news/000637.html



The song Sanvean is available in the following CD?s at Amazon:


The Mirror Pool
Lisa Gerrard.
You may also listen to a sample of the song Sanvean here.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002MYI/ref=ase_continguidetothe/103-9444729-1802202?v=glance&s=music


Toward the Within [SOUNDTRACK] [LIVE]
Dead Can Dance
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000002MV0/103-9444729-1802202?v=glance



Search Criteria
West Wing Episode Guide
7A WF 83429 music
Sanvean Lisa Gerrard West Wing


I hope you find this helpful! If anything is unclear with my answer,
please ask for clarification.

Best Regards,
Bobbie7

Hi GG,

Here's some additional trivia on Lisa Gerrard.  I happened to be
watching "Heat" for the 155th time last night and remembered how much
directors Michael Mann and Ridley Scott are fans of Lisa's music. 
Here's a bit of the rundown:

====================
MICHAEL MANN FILMS
====================

Heat

"La Bas"
Written and Performed by Lisa Gerrard
Courtesy of 4AD
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

"Celon"
Written and Performed by Lisa Gerrard
Courtesy of 4AD
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

"Gloradin"
Written and Performed by Lisa Gerrard
Courtesy of 4AD
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

---------------------------------

Ali

"Set Me Free"
Written by Lisa Gerrard, Pieter Bourke and Ray Murray
Produced by Ray Murray
Performed by Dungeon East & Whild Peach
Published by Lisa Gerrard & Pieter Bourke, Murray Media Music Company,
Colpix Music,
Inc. and New Columbia Pictures Music, Inc.

"Destiny"
Written, Produced and Performed by Lisa Gerrard and Pieter Bourke
Published by Lisa Gerrard & Pieter Bourke and New Columbia Pictures Music, Inc.

"See the Sun"
Written, Produced and Performed by Lisa Gerrard and Pieter Bourke
Published by Lisa Gerrard & Pieter Bourke and New Columbia Pictures Music, Inc.

--------------------------------

The Insider

"Tempest"
Written by Lisa Gerrard, Madjid Khaladj and Pieter Bourke
Performed by Lisa Gerrard and Pieter Bourke
Courtesy of 4 AD Limited/Warner Bros. Records Inc.

"Sacrifice"
Written and Performed by Lisa Gerrard and Pieter Bourke
Courtesy of 4 AD Limited/Warner Bros. Records Inc.


===================
RIDLEY SCOTT FILMS
===================

Gladiator (Hans Zimmer with Lisa Gerrard)
Featured on "Elysium," "Honor Him," "Now We Are Free."

-------------------------------

Black Hawk Down (Hans Zimmer with Lisa Gerrard)
Gortoz A Ran-J'Attends - Danez Prigent & Lisa Gerrard 

------------------------------

Lisa's Credits on IMDB
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0314713


Also, I'd have to shoo you away from "Mirror Pool."  Not her best
work.  Very repetitious sounding but just my opinion.

Best wishes,
V