I'm not exactly asking whether Bob Dylan was better than some classical composer, but I am almost asking that. To restate the question in a more acceptable way: what might a future musical canon (as in the literary canon), which includes both 20th century and pre-20th century figures look like? Would It be Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Wagner, and Stravinsky, etc., ignoring 20th century popular music? Does it make any sense to include some figures of 20th century popular music in with the greats?
I don't feel like this belongs here.
This is only opinion, for the record, but I think it would be like comparing a textbook to a novel, both excelling in various virtues but not grasping others.
Bob Dylan's creative lyrics can't be aptly compared to a symphony however, IMO. Perhaps, one was a better song writer, the other a better composer, the other a better storyteller, for example.
I personally think the current wave of new music, is more comparable as it attempts to create an atmosphere much like classical music does. And yet they too cannot be compared meaningfully.
The use of the voice as a full ranged instrument and the broad spectrum of potential instrumentation though seems incomparable to something such as an elaborate technical death metal song, as the concepts are mutually exclusive of each other.
I don't think there is a true comparison, but perhaps by virtue of technicality, progression, passion and depth one might be considered comparable.
This still might be like comparing an apple to an orange by virtue of orangeness however.
Though please let me know if I'm completely off base and/or breaking any rules with my potentially false understanding, I 'd be happy to retract my opinion.