We went to see the evening procession in Denia (Alicante). This is just one of several processions for the easter week. The celebration of Semana Santa regarding popular piety relays almost exclusively in the processions of the brotherhoods or fraternities.
A common feature in Spain is the almost general usage of the nazareno or penitential robe for some of the participants in the processions. This garment consists in a tunic, a hood with conical tip used to conceal the face of the wearer, and sometimes a cloak. The exact colors and forms of these robes depend on the particular procession. The robes were widely used in the medieval period for penitents, who could demonstrate their penance while still masking their identity.
During the processions, a man or woman will often burst out in a saeta, and the entire procession comes to a halt until the song is finished. The singers are sometimes part of the procession but other times they stand on the balcony of a second story and sing over the massive crowd below.
The music of Semana Santa is usually in minor keys and is obviously extremely sorrowful. The brassy instruments like trumpets and saxophones help most in creating this sound.