Corfiots are great lovers of music. In the past, people used to join in the singing of the cantades (καντάδες), impromptu choral songs in two, three or four voices, usually accompanied by a guitar. The music bands (Philharmonic orchestras, Φιλαρμονικές) that also provide free instruction in music are still popular and they still attract young recruits. Nowadays given the rigours of modern life that has not spared Corfu society, cantades (deriving from the italian cantare meaning to sing) are only performed by professional singers mainly as tourist attractions. Corfu Town is home to three famous, top notch marching brass bands, the dark red-uniformed Philharmonic Society of Corfu or Old Philharmonic or Palia, the blue-uniformed Mantzaros Philharmonic and the bright red and black-uniformed Capodistria Philharmonic.