What is Brigadoon?

Travel Info
What is Brigadoon?

Travel Tips

The "Brigadoon" musical and later film was based on a story by Friedrich Gerstacker. The original tale concerned the mythical, German village of Germelshausen that fell under an evil, magic curse.

The name "Brigadoon" was derived from Brig O' Doon (Bridge of Doon). The real Brig o' Doon, can be seen in Alloway, Scotland, in the heart of Robbie Burns country.

According to the tale made famous by Burns, this ancient, single span, constructed of stone in the 13th century, is the very bridge over which the legendary Tam o' Shanter fled on his horse Meg in order to escape from the three witches who were chasing him.

"Brigadoon" does not however tell the story of Tam O' Shanter, but the name Brig o' Doon was an inspiration for the film/musical title, and gave the writer Alan Jay Lerner the artistic license to make it about a twee Scottish villiage rather than a German one.

Incidentally another word has been coined from Brigadoon, "Brigadoonery" describes anything that is grotesquely Scottish-like, but well-intentioned and essentially harmless.
Others

Brigadoon is a mysterious Scottish highland village which only appears every 200 years. As in the 1954 film directed by Vincent Minnelli and starring Gene Kelly.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046807/...
A musical