The dulcimer evolved from zithers brought to North America by German immigrants in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was common in Appalachian folk music.
After winning several dulcimer contests and sending out recordings to country labels and artists, Mr. Schnaufer moved to Nashville in the 1980's, the university said.
"Nashville turned out to be the perfect place for David to be able to take the dulcimer to its greatest heights," the acclaimed fiddle player Mark O'Connor told The Tennessean. Mr. O'Connor and Mr. Schnaufer collaborated on an instrumental version of ''Both Sides Now'' that was included on Mr. O'Connor's album "Elysian Forest" in 1988.
Mr. Schnaufer also recorded with the Judds, June Carter Cash, Kathy Mattea, Mark Knopfler, Emmylou Harris and others. His solo albums included "Delcimore,""Dulcimer Player" and "Dulcimer Deluxe."
David Schnaufer, a session musician who helped restore the popularity of the dulcimer and recorded with Johnny Cash, Chet Atkins and others, died here Wednesday. He was 53.
His death was announced by Vanderbilt University, where he was an adjunct associate professor of the instrument at the Blair School of Music. He had recently entered a hospice and had been suffering from cancer.
Tracklist:
1. Morning Birds 1:44
2. Here Comes The Sun 2:12
3. Santa Anna's Retreat 2:25
4. Last Date 2:37
5. San Antonio Rose 2:46
6. Beautiful Dreamer 2:36
7. Wings Of A Dove 2:20
8. Greensleeves 3:48
9. Somewhere Over The Rainbow 3:13
10. Twilight Eyes 3:25
11. Jesu Joy 2:30
12. Viper Moon 2:54
13. Steel Guitar Rag 2:30
14. Blue Moon Of Kentucky 2:39
15. Mr Snow 4:13
16. Fisher's Hornpipe 2:05
17. When Silence Was Golden 3:27
18. Dapper John's Reel 2:18
19. I Wonder As I Wander 2:56
20. Pitch A Fit 2:22
21. Starry Lullabye 2:32
22. Rock Th' Shay 2:37
23. The Way You Move The Air 4:32
24. Wildwood Flower 1:59
25. O Pony 2:48
26. I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry 2:52