The large curves of the fall board accept the pianist's intentions amicably and without prejudice, inviting performances that are unconstrained and from the heart. The gentle curves combined with the contrastingly sharp planes give rise to just the right amount of tension.
Minimal
The designers reinterpreted each part and form to create a modern look, paring away any purely ornamental elements to the bare minimum, while leaving an almost feline element of grace in the legs of the instrument. The design does not focus merely on the new, but also focuses on the essential nature of an upright piano in a reinterpretation of each part and shape of the instrument.
Well-Made
An upright piano is constructed from numerous boards of different thicknesses and sizes. Thus, it was difficult to create large curves at various places throughout that form. Ultimately that challenge was met through bold new methods of manufacturing and innovations in the way each material was finished.
Inspiring
The wider than usual music stand provides further evidence of the generosity with which the Radius accepts the emotions and intentions of the pianist. Anyone playing the Radius will enjoy the freedom and reassurance that this instrument brings to a performance.
Sunao Okamura
Designer
Yamaha Design Laboratory
Kao Nimura
Designer
Yamaha Design Laboratory
A change of perspective. The piano's next evolution.
The Radius121EX is the second generation in the Radius series of upright pianos for the Chinese market. This unique model gives tangible expression to the advanced wood-working techniques and detailed hand-crafting so characteristic of Yamaha’s Chinese production facilities.
Looking at a Radius, one is aware of the sincere respect that its creators hold for the piano as it has existed throughout history. At the same time, it is a slight departure from what the conventionally classical piano. Taking the perspective of a pianist into account, designers reinterpreted each part and form of the instrument as they deliberated on the impression that the piano conveys. The fundamental concept behind the design of the Radius was to relook at the impression that an upright piano leaves one with from the perspective of a trained pianist and thereby update the instrument so that the new impression one receives is modern but still an extension of the instrument's history. With the Radius121EX, the designers held to this concept, but also included a variety of bold curves of different sizes, striving for an even more modern design. This is a generous and accepting piano. Though pianists must always feel a certain sense of tension while performing, the Radius121EX affords such artists just enough relief from this tension to bring their performances to wherever they may, providing full freedom of expression. It was the curves surrounding the keyboard that the designers particularly wanted to have leave a deep impression with the pianist. The designers challenged themselves with the technically difficult task of using large curving shapes to present clean joints among the fall board, the top front panel—which faces the pianist straight on—and the side boards. When sitting in front of the keyboard, these gentle curves make the lines to either end seem to disappear quickly but not abruptly. This piano is not a box; it has a simple, clean form, but is not an angular shape. The designers feel that this graceful curving construction provides the pianist with a sense of tranquility. This design—as simple as it can be—remains within the upright piano category. There was always the danger that such a design would just appear typical, but Yamaha has carefully crafted the Radius so that it is anything but.
We would be delighted if the Radius121EX were to add a new aspect to the refined impression offered by the upright piano.
