Usage of the word "sensual" with music

The meaning of sensual is "of or arousing gratification of the senses and physical, especially sexual, pleasure." In the sense of "arousing gratifications of the senses," the word could be used when referring to music.

The NOAD has the following note, about the usage of sensual:

The words sensual and sensuous are frequently used interchangeably to mean "gratifying the senses," especially in a sexual sense. Strictly speaking, this goes against a traditional distinction, by which sensuous is a more neutral term, meaning "relating to the senses rather than the intellect" (swimming is a beautiful, sensuous experience), while sensual relates to gratification of the senses, especially sexually (a sensual massage). In fact, the word sensuous is thought to have been invented by John Milton (1641) in a deliberate attempt to avoid the sexual overtones of sensual. In practice, the connotations are such that it is difficult to use sensuous in Milton's sense. While traditionalists struggle to maintain a distinction, the evidence suggests that the neutral use of sensuous is rare in modern English. If a neutral use is intended, it is advisable to use alternative wording.


Well, Yeats used it to great effect in his poem "Sailing to Byzantium":

Caught in that sensual music all neglect
Monuments of unageing intellect.

(N.B. This is also the poem that gave the Coen brothers'* No country for old men)

Sensual is an adjective meaning physical, carnal, bodily, etc. It is often confused or conflated with sensuous, which means sexy, attractive, luxurious, etc.

 

* Via Cormac McCarthy (thanks for the reminder, @Callithumpian).